That's a Wrap! HCAF's 9th Annual Private Care Symposium
That's a Wrap! HCAF's 9th Annual Private Care Symposium
Thank you to everyone who joined the Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF) for our 9th Annual Private Care Symposium, held October 20-21 in Deerfield Beach!
From regulatory updates and compliance strategies to innovative business opportunities, this year's event brought together Florida's home care professionals, industry experts, and solution providers for two days of learning, networking, and collaboration.
Whether you attended or couldn't make it this year, here's a look back at the conversations, insights, and connections that made the symposium a success.
Day 1: Building a Stronger Foundation
The symposium kicked off October 20 with two in-depth workshops led by HCAF Executive Director Denise Bellville, RN, BS, and Senior Director of Best Practices & Compliance Patti Heid, MSPT, COS-C.
Attendees explored the fundamentals of Medicaid specialty home care and private care operations, gaining practical guidance to strengthen compliance, navigate regulatory requirements, and support agency success.
The day concluded with a networking reception, giving attendees an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and build new relationships.
Day 2: Insights, Innovation & Opportunities
On October 21, five expert-led sessions addressed some of the most pressing issues and emerging opportunities facing Florida's private care providers.
Agency for Health Care Administration Update
Susan Harris Lowery, RN, and Kimberly McIntyre, RN, of Florida's state regulatory agency provided regulatory insights and guidance to help providers navigate Florida's evolving oversight and compliance landscape.
From Mandatory to Meaningful: Using Training to Protect, Retain, and Support Home Care Teams
Emily Scarbrough McFadden of Showd.me explored how effective training strategies can improve caregiver engagement, retention, and organizational performance.
GUIDE: The Million-Dollar Opportunity
Debbie Miller of 52 Weeks Marketing & Helping Heroes examined opportunities associated with Medicare's Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model.
Growing Your Private Care Business With Value-Based Purchasing
Holly Haringa of Corcoran Consulting discussed strategies for positioning private care providers for growth through value-based purchasing.
Navigating VA Home Care Billing in a Time of Change
Frank Ripoll of Paradigm Senior Services shared insights into the evolving Department of Veterans Affairs home care billing landscape and its implications for providers.
Together, these sessions offered practical takeaways to help agencies navigate industry changes, strengthen operations, and identify new opportunities for growth.
More Than Education: Connecting Florida's Home Care Community
Beyond the educational sessions, the symposium provided opportunities to exchange ideas, address shared challenges, and strengthen relationships among home care professionals throughout Florida.
As Gary Evans of Atlantic In-Home Care noted, “What a terrific conference! Well organized and executed … the topics were current and thoughtful … many were directly related to issues we are facing today.”
From informative presentations and comprehensive educational materials to meaningful conversations with fellow agency and nurse registry owners, the symposium reinforced the value of bringing Florida's home care community together.
Thank You to Our Speakers, Sponsors & Attendees!
We extend our sincere appreciation to our expert speakers for sharing their knowledge and experience, our attendees for their participation and engagement, and our sponsors for their generous support of this year's event.
Special thanks to our 2026 Private Care Symposium sponsors:
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Their support helps HCAF continue delivering timely, relevant education and valuable networking opportunities for Florida's home care providers. We encourage attendees to explore the resources and solutions these organizations offer.
Until Next Time!
As we close the chapter on another successful Private Care Symposium, HCAF remains committed to providing the education, advocacy, and connections that help Florida's home care providers thrive.
Thank you for being part of our home care community. We look forward to seeing you at another HCAF event soon!