Anthony Ormsbee-Hale talks with Alex Yndo (Texas Assisted Living Association) about what to expect at the 2026 TALA Conference, April 8–10, at the Kalahari in Round Rock. Listen in to learn more about the Renaissance Movement theme, can’t-miss moments (networking receptions, the Expo, and recognition events), and cover what’s new this year—“Renaissance Meets Residents,” a resident art exhibit. Alex also shares practical tips for maximizing CEUs and planning your schedule in the conference app, plus a few logistics to make the experience smoother.

Key dates & deadlines

• Feb 20: Deadline for resident art submissions + HERO Award nominations
• Feb 24: Early-bird registration deadline
• Apr 8 (5:00–7:00 p.m.): Board Reception
• Apr 9: HERO Awards Luncheon
• Apr 10 (morning): Sunrise Yoga
• Registration note: Conference registration stays open through the conference (no early cutoff).

Learn more at: https://tala.org/confandexpo/

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.

In this short, practical episode, we share three smart tips Texas assisted living communities can use to reset their compliance approach in Q1. From reviewing past citations and incidents for patterns, to revisiting prevention plans that may not be working, to prioritizing focus using HHSC citation trends, this episode helps operators move from reactive fixes to proactive control.

Ideal for owners, executive directors, and administrators who want to start the year survey-ready, focused, and confident.

Helpful Links:

TALA Conference Info: https://tala.org/confandexpo/

TALA AL Manager Course Schedule: https://tala.org/assisted-living-manager-courses/

TALA Talks Podcast with Rose Saenz: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2314814/episodes/15047426

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.

Year-end is prime season for scams, data breaches, and financial fraud—and senior living communities are a high-value target. In this episode of TALA Talks, Anthony walks listeners through the biggest risks facing residents, families, and communities, and breaks them down into three practical fronts: resident/family scams, internal data security, and operational/billing fraud. You’ll leave with a 30-day checklist you can use right away to tighten controls, educate your teams and families, and better protect the people and information entrusted to your community.

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.

In this episode of TALA Talks, Anthony explores how empathy isn’t just kindness — it’s a leadership skill that improves care quality, teamwork, and resident satisfaction.

Learn three simple exercises you can use with your team to help them feel what residents experience every day:

1. The Vision Challenge – Simulate vision loss to build patience and awareness.
2. The Silent Conversation – Experience the frustration of communication barriers.
3. The Weighted Walk – Understand fatigue and mobility challenges firsthand.

These short, hands-on activities create lasting impact and can be easily added to stand-ups, huddles, or in-services.

Empathy training like this is also featured in the Texas Assisted Living Manager Course, where leaders learn to combine compliance, compassion, and culture to elevate the resident experience.

Listen now to discover how a few minutes of shared perspective can transform your team — and the way they care.

Bonus content: Email Anthony for your own Facilitator Guide for these activities!

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.

In this episode of TALATalks, the official podcast of the Texas Assisted Living Association, Anthony Ormsbee-Hale sits down with Phyllis Pittman, founder of CMedEd, a patient-centered, free digital health platform designed to support cancer patients and their families. Phyllis shares her personal motivation behind creating the resource, drawing from her father’s cancer journey and the lack of accessible information available at the time. Together, they discuss how CMedEd provides clear, compassionate, and medically vetted information—supported by over 2,000 illustrations and contributions from top cancer institutions—to help families make confident decisions.

The conversation explores how senior living executive directors can use CMedEd to guide overwhelmed families, distribute reliable resources, and foster hope without overstepping clinical boundaries. Phyllis highlights inspiring patient stories where access to clear information changed lives, and she underscores the importance of hope, peer support, and empowerment in navigating a cancer diagnosis.

Listeners will leave with practical ways to share this resource in their senior living communities and a renewed sense of how trusted information can transform care.

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.

In this episode of TALATalks, host Anthony Ormsbee-Hale is joined by Aaron Fish, Founder and CEO of Trestle Hospitality Concepts, for a conversation that goes beyond food—it’s about leadership, culture, and the power of hospitality to transform senior living communities.

Aaron shares his leadership philosophy and how strong culinary operations can serve as a cornerstone for operational success, team engagement, and resident satisfaction. Together, Anthony and Aaron discuss how intentional leadership in dining programs creates ripple effects across staffing, retention, and community reputation.

This episode explores:

• Why hospitality should be a core leadership competency in senior living
• The connection between strong dining culture and workforce stability
• How leaders can coach, empower, and retain frontline hospitality teams
• The role of innovation, empathy, and consistency in culinary leadership
• Practical steps for transforming food service into a leadership-driven differentiator

Whether you lead operations, manage a team, or support culinary staff, this episode delivers actionable insights on how to lead through hospitality—and why doing so is essential in today’s competitive senior living landscape.

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.

In less than 10 minutes, discover how to turn your first 90 days as an Executive Director into a launching pad for long-term success. In this episode of TALATALKS, host Anthony Ormsbee-Hale shares three proven strategies to help senior living leaders build trust, secure early wins, and develop a compelling roadmap for their community.

Packed with real-world examples and powerful statistics—like why 30% of new hires leave within 90 days and how 90% of managers form early impressions—this quick episode delivers practical insight you can apply immediately. Whether you're stepping into the ED role for the first time or supporting someone who is, this episode is your go-to guide for making a lasting impact, fast.

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.

In this episode of TALATalks, Anthony Ormsbee-Hale sits down with Helen Hunsinger, Director of Communications at the Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA), and Rose Saenz, TALA’s Workforce Development Advisor, to explore how TALA is leading the charge in both advocacy and action across Texas’s senior living landscape.

Helen shares how TALA is elevating the visibility of assisted living communities through strategic communication, innovative member resources, and a renewed focus on telling the authentic story of senior living in Texas.

Then, the conversation transitions to Rose, who discusses TALA’s bold workforce development initiatives—including veteran outreach, career pipeline partnerships, and building purpose-driven pathways into the industry. Together, Helen and Rose offer a compelling look at how TALA is empowering providers, supporting professionals, and shaping the future of senior living.

Whether you're a provider, professional, or policymaker, this episode offers insight into the critical work being done behind the scenes to strengthen the sector’s foundation—one story, and one team member, at a time.

Resources from Podcast:

Operation Serving Seniors: https://tala.org/operation-serving-seniors/

TALA Events Calendar: https://tala.org/events/

To learn more about TALATalks and stay updated on upcoming episodes, visit https://tala.org/talatalks/ or reach out to Anthony Ormsbee-Hale at anthony.ormsbee-hale@tala.org.