Coming October 6 - 8, 2026
Ribbon Town Conference and Event Center at Four Winds South Bend
3000 Prairie Ave., South Bend, IN 46614
Break Free of Traditional Dementia Care
Join us for a transformative summit focused on breaking free from outdated models of dementia care. "Escaping Tradition" is designed for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and community leaders who are ready to challenge the status quo and reimagine what compassionate, person-centered dementia support truly looks like. This event will explore innovative approaches that honor individuality, promote dignity, and create environments where people living with dementia can thrive - not just exist.
Through inspiring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and special live performances, attendees will gain practical strategies to implement meaningful change in their own communities and care settings. Whether you're just beginning your journey or already advocating for culture change in elder care, this summit will equip you with the tools, insights, and support needed to lead the way.
Let's move beyond institutional models and build a future where dementia care is defined by connection, purpose, and respect.
Malaz Boustani, M.D., MPH
Dr. Boustani is a geriatrician, a neuroscientist, a serial entrepreneur and an agile scientist with extensive experience in designing, evaluating, implementing, and disseminating healthcare innovations with a main focus on brain health.
Dr. Boustani is a geriatrician, a neuroscientist, a serial entrepreneur, and an agile scientist with extensive experience in designing, evaluating, implementing, and disseminating healthcare innovations with a main focus on brain health. Over the past decade, Dr. Boustani has built a clinical laboratory of more than 2,000 ambulatory practices serving at least 10 million lives within five Midwestern States (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky). He used the above clinical laboratory to lead the execution of numerous clinical research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services totaling more than $100 million. He has more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and just published two books about Agile Implementation and Agile Network. In order to increase the societal impact of his discoveries and innovation, he founded four Information technology companies including Preferred Population Health, RestUp, Blue Agilis, and DigiCare Realized.
Dr. Boustani used insight from Agile Science to develop the Indiana University Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Implementation Science. This one-year certificate is designed to coach and mentor a tightly linked network of change agents imbedded within their local healthcare systems. These change agents have an Agile Mindset and use agile innovation, agile implementation, and agile diffusion processes to transform their healthcare delivery organizations into agile organizations.
Eloy van Hal
Eloy van Hal is one of the founders of The Hogeweyk, Dementia Village, and senior managing advisor in the Be The Care Concept Advisory team of the Vivium Care group. Eloy has over 20 years of experience in managing care and more than 10 years in providing strategic and operational advisory services to clients in the public and private sectors.
Eloy van Hal (1967) is one the founders of the Hogeweyk and senior managing advisor in the Be Advice Advisory team.
Since 2002 he represents Be Advice/ Vivium Zorggroep. Many highly regarded international media widely reported on the Hogeweyk and his work e.g. Times, Times Magazine, CNN, CBS, ARD, Die Zeit, BBC, The Guardian, The Economist, Le Figaro.
Eloy and his team use the Be Advice Paradigm© to create unique communities for people, whether they are living with dementia or not. Examples of projects inspired and guided by the Be Advice Paradigm© you will find in The Netherlands, France, Norway, Italy, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA. The Be Advice team started a movement with a different way of thinking and acting.
Consumer behavior has fascinated Eloy from an early age. Asking questions such as “What would you want when you get older? How would you want to live? Who is happy living in an institution, and who isn’t?” Talking about the older adults as consumers.
The multidisciplinary master’s in Consumer Sciences at Wageningen University & Research with a focus on management, economics, and sociology was a logical addition to his study Facility Management. For years, he has been working with this experience and a lot of dedication to improving the living environment and care for older consumers with and without dementia. He creates a tangible and visible level of quality and joie de vivre as a choice, in addition to good care and support. Disrupting traditional care models.
Stay Informed & Inspired!
Don’t miss out on important updates and announcements regarding Requests for Presentations, Speaker Opportunities, Registration, and Sponsorship Opportunities for our upcoming Midwest Dementia Summit 2026: Escaping Tradition.
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Advance Your Skills with the Institute for Excellence in Memory Care
Are you ready to make a greater impact in the lives of those living with dementia? The Institute for Excellence in Memory Care offers professional caregivers and healthcare providers the opportunity to elevate their expertise through specialized training programs.
With a focus on practical skills and evidence-based practices, the Institute empowers caregivers to provide compassionate, informed care that improves quality of life for individuals and their families. Whether you're new to the field or an experienced professional, our certification programs are designed to help you succeed.
Take the next step in your caregiving journey.
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