Winter Symposium

9:00am – 10:00am

Make Stellar Patient Service Your Superpower

Presented by Mitch Roberts

This engaging session empowers healthcare professionals to reclaim both patient trust and personal joy by transforming everyday interactions into powerful moments of connection. Participants will learn six clear, practical steps to elevate patient service without adding time to their day by improving communication, strengthening relationships, and positively impacting patient experience metrics.

Mitch Roberts has served hundreds of businesses and executives at companies such as Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, Dell, Deloitte, Trane Technologies, Visa, Fred Hutch Cancer Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Mitch has served multiple nonprofits over the years; he is currently serving on the board for Kingdom Medicine, a nonprofit working with Healthcare providers.

 

10:15am – 11:45am

The Role of Nutrition in Supporting Cognitive and Mental Health

Presented by Jen Bruning

This session will discuss the role that nutrition can play in maintaining or improving the mental health status of older adults via the gut-brain axis, nutrient abundance and enjoyment of meals. A review of current mental health challenges in older adults and specific nutrients that can support mental health goals will be included. Cultural meal patterns will inspire shifts to resident menus in approachable and achievable ways.

Jen Bruning MS, RDN, LDN, serves as the Director of Partner Education for Incite Strategic Partners, the exclusive Group Purchasing Organization of Washington and Idaho Health Care Associations. Jen recently concluded nine years as a National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. She presents dining and nutrition-related educational content to senior living professionals on a regular basis.

 

1:00pm – 2:30pm

Beyond the Fall: Building Safer Pathways in LTC

Presented by Chikal Patel, MD; Sing Palat, MD, CMD; Kristen Rush, MSN ARNP.

Optum

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury, hospitalization, and functional decline in older adults living in long-term care. This session will approach falls not only as a clinical and regulatory challenge, but also as a human experience—shaping dignity, independence, and quality of life for residents and families. Participants will gain an evidence-based, interdisciplinary framework for fall prevention, mitigation, and response.

Chikal Patel, MD, is an Internist, Hospice/Palliative Medicine physician and a Geriatrician. She currently works as the Market Medical Director for Senior Community Care within Optum Health covering Washington state and Oregon. She is a faculty member at Creighton University’s Pheonix campus.

Sing Palat, MD, CMD, is a medical director for Optum Senior Community Care. She works with advanced practice clinicians in long-term care settings and serves as Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado.

Kristen Rush, MSN ARNP, has 20 years’ experience working in skilled nursing and Palliative care. She has a Graduate certificate in Palliative care from the University of WA, a Masters in Nursing from Simmons College and has worked in long-term care environments for much of her career.

 

2:45pm- 3:35pm

Active Aging in Long-Term Care: Moving Beyond Activities to Meaningful Engagement

Presented by Peter Fronte and Dr. Steven Castle

This presentation explores what active aging truly means in practice and how facilities can move beyond task-based programming toward meaningful, ability-based engagement. Participants will learn how everyday interactions, care routines, and organizational culture can either support or unintentionally limit resident autonomy and well-being.

Pete Fronte, MBA, is the founder and CEO of Altura and has over 30 years of leadership experience in the healthcare and life science sectors. A particular area of his focus is on providing value-based health resources at home for convenience and reducing provider burden. This includes increasing preventive screening and improving the health of older adults by increasing physical activity and reducing fall risk.

9:00am – 10:00am

2026 WHCA Policy Update

Presented by WHCA’s Carma Matti-Jackson and Lauri St. Ours, and Jeff Gombosky.

Washington’s long-term care landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with legislative, regulatory, and budget decisions carrying direct implications for daily operations in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. This session delivers a focused policy update from WHCA, translating recent and emerging developments into practical insights providers can apply immediately.

Carma Matti-Jackson is the president and chief executive officer of the Washington Health Care Association. In this capacity, Carma oversees the management, operations, and strategic direction of WHCA. She holds a master’s in business administration and a bachelor’ in public relations from Pacific Lutheran University.

Lauri St. Ours is the Executive Vice President for Governmental Relations for WHCA. In this capacity, she is responsible for oversight of state government affairs, working with the CEO and association leadership to determine legislative and policy priorities for WHCA’s skilled nursing and assisted living members. Lauri has nearly 30 years of experience working with the Washington State Legislature.

Jeff Gombosky is a former legislator, having been elected four times to serve in the State House of Representatives. While in office, Jeff served as Chair of the House Finance Committee, Democratic Floor Leader, and as a member of the Committees on Appropriations, Higher Education, Trade and Economic Development, and Children and Family Services.

 

10:15am – 11:15am

Supporting Positive Behavior in Long-Term Care: Practical Behavioral Interventions for Everyday Challenges

Presented by Krystal Malo

Participants will learn practical, person-centered behavioral intervention strategies that promote safety, dignity, and quality of life. The training focuses on understanding why behaviors occur, identifying triggers, and using effective, non-punitive interventions that can be implemented immediately in daily care routines.

Krystle Malo has a BA in Psychology and over 22 years of experience in the behavioral health field. She started her career with DSHS at Echo Glen Children’s Center in 2006. In November 2019, Krystle transitioned to ALTSA as the Behavioral Health Provider Trainer and Best Practice Specialist for Residential Care Services. Krystle has provided training on various behavioral health topics for several years.

 

12:30pm – 2:00pm

Compliance Under the Clock: Wage & Hour Learning for LTC Employees

Presented by Sarah Swale

This employer-focused session breaks down wage and hour basics in clear, practical terms for long-term care professionals. Participants will learn how hours worked, overtime, meal and rest periods, on-call time, training hours, and travel time are commonly handled under wage and hour laws.

Sarah Swale has extensive experience litigating, mediating, and resolving claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and failure to accommodate. She has also assisted clients through hundreds of agency charges and audits nationwide on federal, state, and local levels. Sarah is a recognized national presenter on topics ranging from wage issues to social media and privacy in the workplace.

Special Offer for WHCA Members: Attend this standalone session for just $50 per person! Unlock 90 minutes of expert legal counsel and gain guidance, strategies, and tools with real-world answers for an incredible value. Learn more.

 

2:15pm – 3:45pm

From Policy to Practice: Critical LTC Hot Topics for Assisted Living & Skilled Nursing

Presented by WHCA’s Elena Madrid & Vicki McNealley

This timely session delivers a practical, plain-language round-up of today’s most critical long-term care hot topics—connecting policy changes directly to day-to-day operational impact. Participants will gain a high-level overview of current regulatory and legislative developments, emerging compliance risks, and system-wide trends affecting both assisted living and skilled nursing settings.

Elena Madrid’s background in survey and enforcement as a surveyor and field manager for DSHS provides her with extensive knowledge on compliance, the survey process, and policies and procedures. She is a registered nurse and brings a wealth of knowledge regarding the regulatory issues affecting providers. Elena is currently serving as co-chair on the AHCA Survey and Regulatory Committee and is a member of the AHCA/NCAL Quality Cabinet.

Vicki McNealley is directly responsible for supporting WHCA assisted living provider members through regulatory clarification, facility system evaluation, education, and much more. Vicki spent ten years as the assisted living director of WHCA prior to serving as the Corporate Director of Regulatory Compliance for Village Concepts for six years. She is a registered nurse and holds a doctorate degree in nutrition.