Winter Symposium
Every Picture Tells A Story:
A Virtual Exploration of the Future of Long-Term Care
We’re excited to connect with you! Occurring over the course of three days in February, WHCA’s Virtual Winter Symposium is a fantastic opportunity to learn virtually with other long-term care providers from throughout Washington. Learn invaluable skills and insights from expert presenters and gain the confidence to help your facility provide quality care – from the comfort of your home or office!
Each day of the Virtual Winter Symposium is focused on a single track. Join us for the full event, or choose the days that are most valuable to you. You can earn up to 5 CEUs for each day you attend.
Registration Options
| Member Cost | Nonmember Cost | |
| Full Event | $199 | $398 |
| Single Day | $79 | $158 |
WHCA members get a discount when you sign up as a group! For every 3 attendees you register for the full event, you get 1 free! This discount can only be used for attendees from the same facility. Contact [email protected] for more information.
To stay up-to-date on the 2026 Virtual Winter Symposium, please bookmark this page, or follow WHCA on LinkedIn or Facebook. We will be posting frequent updates to this page between now and the event.
Symposium Schedule
Full schedule coming soon! Stay tuned. All sessions will be held on Zoom.
Tuesday, February 17
Wednesday, February 18
Thursday, February 19
9:00am – 10:00am
Bring Back Belonging!
Presented by Molly Mackey
LEAdeRNship Institute
No one wants to feel ostracized or alone. Yet, research has shown many workers feel this way. Now is the time to Bring Back Belonging. Organizations who have a high sense of belonging have lower turnover, higher productivity, and less sick days. Learn how this could be your organization.
10:15am – 11:45am
Ignite a Culture of Accountability
Presented by Manny Martinez
Relentless Leadership LLC – Crestcom
Ignite a Culture of Accountability in your workplace where employees can thrive, and strategy can flourish. Create a culture where employees are engaged, and visions become reality. Learn how to create an accountability strategy and why having one is essential to your line of business.
1:00pm – 2:30pm
The Mindful Caregiver: Staying Calm and Compassionate When You’re Running on Empty
Presented by Trish Tutton
In this practical and inspiring workshop, you will learn a powerful yet accessible tool to help you stay calm and optimistic: mindfulness. Not the “sit still for 30 minutes” kind — but micro-practices that meet you in the reality of your busy, heart-driven life. This session will help you discover how small, intentional actions can build your capacity to stay calm and hopeful.
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.
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.
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.
2:45pm- 3:34pm
Active Aging in Long-Term Care: Moving Beyond Activities to Meaningful Engagement
Presented by Peter Fronte
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.