The South Texas APS Community Board is proud to host its 6th Annual Symposium, bringing together older adults, caregivers, and professionals in aging services to share expertise, highlight local resources, and build meaningful connections.
This year’s symposium offers a dynamic program designed to support professional growth and strengthen collaboration to better meet the evolving needs of older adults.
Date & Time
Thursday, June 25 @ 8:00 am to 3:30 pm CST, Online Event starts at 8:30 am.
Location: Online or In-Person at Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), 2700 NE Loop 410 Board Room San Antonio, Texas 78201 United States
Featured Topics & Speakers Include
Facilitating Change in Vulnerable Elders
Presented by Jason Schillerstrom, MD, MPH, CMD, AGSF, FAAFP | UT Health San Antonio | Glenn Biggs Institute | South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Jenny Stefanic, BSW | Adult Protective Services Risk Subject Matter Expert
This workshop introduces practical, person-centered strategies for supporting behavior change in older adults. Participants will explore ambivalence as a normal part of the change process, learn to recognize sustain and change talk, and practice a guiding counseling style. The session will also cover key steps for facilitating change: engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning.
When Aging and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Intersect.
Presented by Melissa Henderson, M.A., BCBA, LBA |IDDS Transition Support Team Manager| Safety Care Trainer | Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) | Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Services
Diana Chavarria, | IDDS Transition Support Team Manager| Safety Care Trainer | Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) | Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Services.
As individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) live longer, systems designed for aging populations and disability services are increasingly overlapping—yet often remain disconnected. This workshop explores the critical gaps that emerge at this intersection, particularly when long-term caregivers, often aging parents, are no longer able to provide support.
Participants will examine challenges related to emergency planning, navigating service systems, and accessing appropriate resources across the lifespan. The session will also highlight how individuals can “fall through the cracks” between Medicaid waivers and aging services, and what professionals can do to better coordinate care, advocate for continuity, and support person-centered outcomes.
Documentary Film Screening – “No Place to Grow Old”
A growing crisis unfolding quietly across America: the increasing number of seniors facing homelessness. Set in Portland, Oregon, this poignant documentary follows the lives of three older adults navigating the harsh realities of life without a home. Through their stories of hardship and resilience, the film offers an intimate portrayal of the challenges they face, while also shining a light on the systemic issues contributing to their plight.
No Place to Call Home: When Aging and Housing Insecurity Collide Panel Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Ian Johnson | Assistant Professor of Social Work | The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
Featuring: A distinguished panel of housing experts from across San Antonio
Post-panel discussion will focus on localizing this growing issue, exploring solutions, and examining the policy, economic, and health factors impacting housing stability, while also centering preventive measures that promote safe, affordable, and sustainable housing for older adults in San Antonio.
In-Person Registration
Register to Attend Virtually on Zoom
Need help joining by Zoom? English instructions / Spanish instructions
Free Continuing Education Credit Is Available for Professional Attendees.
4 Hours of Social Work and Nursing Continuing Education Units/Hours have been applied for. Sage Care Management is approved as a provider for continuing education by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners and by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Virtual attendees can also receive continuing educational credits by attending all sessions with their camera on.
Other Professions: This seminar may qualify for continuing education/contact hours as required by many national, state, and local licensing boards or professional organizations. Sage Care Management will provide a Certificate of Attendance. Save with your course outline and contact your own board or organization for specific filing requirements.
Please join us to explore the many ways our community is working together to strengthen support systems, so all older adults can continue to take charge of their lives and age in place safely!