The Heartland Caregiving Conference

*Just like life, time and activities subject to change

PRESENTER BIOS

Nancy Baum

Nancy is a 200 RYT Yoga Instructor. She is also a certified Cardio Drumming instructor through Fit Group USA.

Kari Ann Forbush

Kari Ann Forbush is an end-of-life doula and caregiver educator who helps families and professional caregivers navigate dementia, serious illness, and end-of-life care with compassion and confidence. Through her work with Amicus Mortis, she teaches practical communication and caregiving strategies that support dignity, connection, and emotional wellbeing. Kari Ann’s work focuses on helping caregivers feel less alone and more prepared for the realities of caring for someone they love.

Dr. Nicole Kurlbaum

Dr. Nicole Kurlbaum is a co-owner of Kurlbaum Dental, a Kansas City-based practice providing both traditional and mobile dental care throughout Kansas and Missouri. Passionate about improving access to care, Dr. Kurlbaum and her team serve patients directly in homes, senior communities, care facilities, and workplaces, focusing on individuals who struggle to access a traditional dental office. 

Known for her compassionate and non-judgmental approach, Dr. Kurlbaum is dedicated to helping patients feel heard, comfortable, and confident in their smiles again. Before becoming a dentist, she worked as a medical illustrator and taught at the Kansas City Art Institute after graduating from the University of Kansas with degrees in art and science. 

Dr. Kurlbaum has presented at numerous healthcare community conferences, including the LIV Well Women’s Conference and HCA presentations for emergency medicine physicians. She has also been featured in KC Parent Magazine and recognized nationally by Incisal Edge Magazine as one of their “”40 Under 40″” dentists.

Georgia Mueller

Georgia Mueller, MS, WIP-C Benefits Specialist, is mom to a young man who needs someone to be available 24/7. She has been supporting the disability community in Greater Kansas City for 25 years through family education, advocacy and benefits counseling through a variety of agencies. In 2021 she started her own business to share all the resources rather than just one piece of pie at a time. There is so much to know and being able to visualize it all at one time is her unique skill.

Kristen Lienhop

Kristen Lienhop is an Occupational Therapist and Driving Rehabilitation Specialist with 28 years of experience helping adults live safely and confidently at home and in their communities. She is the founder of Limitless Living Solutions, where she provides personalized, in-home occupational therapy and caregiver training, with a focus on aging-in-place assessments, fall prevention, home safety, and comprehensive driving evaluations.

Kristen is an entrepreneurial leader and community educator who partners with local organizations to deliver evidence-based safety programs, including fall prevention initiatives, driver assessment and driving retirement education, and Age-Friendly Health System–aligned programming. She is passionate about shifting occupational therapy upstream—out of reactive healthcare and into the community—so older adults and families can anticipate risks, stay engaged, and live with confidence.

Stephanie Morris

Stephanie Morris, LCSW, LSCSW, is a licensed independent contractor at Alyssum Collective Counseling, a licensed independent contractor at Gilda’s Club Kansas City, and a Social Worker in Primary Care at Saint Luke’s/BJC in Kansas City, Missouri.  She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Social Gerontology from the University of Central Missouri.

With experience across primary care, hospital settings, and private practice, Stephanie supports adults navigating anxiety, depression, chronic illness, caregiving stress, and major life transitions.  She is passionate about walking alongside people during some of their most vulnerable moments.  Stephanie is also familiar with the “”sandwiched”” experience.  She assists her parents and her father in law as they navigate aging and the additional support that is needed to be as independent as possible.  

Outside of her work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with family, soaking up the sun at the lake, reading a good book, and getting plenty of snuggles from her two dogs and two cats.

Rhonda Osborn

Rhonda Osborn, MSTD, is a certified end-of-life doula, spiritual director, and grief coach who brings nearly 30 years of experience in oncology, adult learning, and compassionate care to her work with individuals and families navigating life’s toughest moments. After nearly two decades in leadership and training in the radiation oncology field, Rhonda followed a deep calling to support others at the end of life.

Through her business, This One Life, LLC, Rhonda offers spiritual direction, grief support, and end-of-life guidance. She is known for creating safe, sacred spaces where people can speak honestly about death and dying.  She helps people find for themselves what it means to live authentically and intentionally.

In her spare time, you will find Rhonda taking care of her sweet mama, playing with her 2 dogs, Jack and George, or exploring a hiking trail or bike path with her husband, Heath.

Brittani Rhoades

With nearly 20 years of experience in the culinary and hospitality industry plus non-profit management, Brittani Rhoades (she/they) is deeply passionate about creating and delivering memorable experiences for families. She has a B.S. in Culinary and Hospitality Management from the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California, then ran a successful personal chef business for over a decade.

Currently, as Lifestyle Director, Brittani oversees the operations and quality of lifestyle programs and services across independent living, assisted living, and memory care, ensuring purposeful engagement for residents, their families, and caregivers at Meadowbrook Senior Living. In addition to their operational role, they manage the Dial 4 Seniors Foundation, which provides support to underserved seniors connected to Dial Senior Living.

While curating a personal and professional network of supportive and passionate associates, who share values of honesty, generosity, and efficiency, Brittani is dedicated to fostering a nurturing and enriching environment for all ages and abilities. In her personal life, she attempts many hobbies, has 2 daughters in elementary school, a spouse researching and writing a dissertation about early childhood education, and a chronic health condition.

Amanda Trout

Amanda Trout, LCSW, LSCSW, OSW-C, Program Director, has over 20 years’ experience as a licensed social worker in various settings throughout the Kansas City community. She is a Board Certified Oncology Social Worker with 15 years’ experience providing clinical social work services to pediatric, adolescent, young adult, and adult patients living with cancer and their families. She has a passion for psychosocial program development, adjustment to illness counseling, working with and collaborating with community stakeholders to provide psychosocial support, programming, and advocacy for those impacted by cancer. She also is deeply invested in health and mental health equity, and has volunteered her time as a parent advocate within Kansas City Public Schools. She lives in the Waldo neighborhood with her husband Micah, 11 y/o son Milo, and cat Bella.

2026 Resource Shopping Exhibitors

Gilda’s Club Kansas City

Kurlbaum Dental

GiftWellSoon

The Binder Firm

Keela Vaughn, Caregiving Author

ArchWell Health

NKC Health

The Healthcare Resort of Leawood

Aspire Senior Living

Alliance Personal Care

Medstar Home Health LLC

Listening to Change, LLC

Social Circle LLC

Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration

Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute – Cognitive Neurology

Mind Over Matters Senior Care

2026 Door Prize Donors

Kansas City Current
Tiki Taco
Chicken N Pickle
Mildred’s
The Facial Bar
Mental Health in a Box Co.