Overview

This special event brings together key experts who can help define and inform your work as a long-term care professional.

Please join us for this exceptional opportunity to connect with colleagues who value, support, and understand the critically important services provided in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities throughout Washington and Idaho.

Connect with peers, leaders, and industry experts in a collegial, energizing setting. Build relationships that strengthen your impact in long-term care.

Learn from expert presenters in dynamic education sessions, designed specifically to help you improve your facility’s operations, navigate regulatory and legal updates, and develop your leadership skills.

Grow as you discover innovative tools, services, and products that support your mission. Our Associate Business partners will help you explore the latest solutions for exceptional care and service.

Don’t miss out on this exceptional opportunity to gather with your fellow long-term care leaders. Reserve your spot today and help shape the story of our community.

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Key Activities

Education & Professional Development

Gain valuable insights from the range of education sessions on offer across all three days of the Conference. Check back soon for a more detailed schedule of classes!

WHCA-PAC Fall Golf Invitational

Join Washington’s leading long-term care providers and industry partners for a day of connection, camaraderie and purposeful play at The Creek at Qualchan golf course. Your support for the WHCA-PAC is essential to securing the funding, workforce and regulatory support necessary for accessible, high-quality long-term care.

AB Appreciation Reception

We love our Associate Business partners and all they do to support our skilled nursing and assisted living provider members. Kick off Fall Conference with a warm, welcoming reception that honors our AB members’ contributions to our long-term care community with drinks, appetizers, and networking.

Trade Show Luncheon

Whatever the challenges facing your community, you’ll find innovative solutions at the Fall Conference Trade Show. Our exhibitors are eager to help you make the most of your budget, streamline your operations, and provide the highest quality care to your residents.

Casino Night

Hit the tables and try your luck at the Fall Conference Casino Night! This fun evening activity is the perfect way to relax after a rigorous day of education sessions. Enjoy mingling with your fellow conference attendees, try your hand at a game or two, and see if Lady Luck is on your side!

Schedule

• Monday, September 14
  • WHCA-PAC Fall Golf Invitational
  • Education Sessions begin 1:00 pm
  • Welcome Reception
  • AB Dine-Around
• Tuesday, September 15
  • General Session
  • IHCA Board Meeting
  • Education Sessions
  • Trade Show Luncheon
  • Casino Night
• Wednesday, September 16
  • Education Sessions
  • Conference ends 12:00 pm

Class Schedule

Monday, September 14

What’s New in The Fire Marshal World
Kimberly Bloor (WA State Patrol)

New citations come up all the time. This session will address how to avoid the citations you don’t hear about, including all the new or newish citations. There will also be time for questions and discussion.

The 12 Photos That Predict Your Next Survey, Staffing Crisis, or Census Dip
Michael Garrett (Arete Architecture)

Learn how your building’s physical environment influences resident safety, staff efficiency, and financial performance. Through an interactive review of common long-term care spaces, participants will identify hidden sources of “space friction” that contribute to staff burnout, resident risk, and operational challenges.

Build Your Roadmap to a Safety-Focused Infection Prevention and Control Program
Debbie Hurst (Comagine Health)

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programs don’t come with step-by-step directions, but you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. Join this session to explore how to establish sound IPC protocols, work effectively with your team and maintain a thriving infection prevention program. Leave with practical ideas, renewed confidence, and actionable strategies you can use right away to strengthen your IPC program and build long-term success.

Tuesday, September 15

From Vision to Practice: How Leadership Shapes Infection Prevention Success in Long-Term Care
Shannon Cupka (Comagine Health)

Infection prevention in long-term care is more critical than ever, yet it remains one of the most frequently cited deficiencies. As residents enter care with increasingly complex medical needs, higher acuity, and emerging infectious risks, leaders and infection preventionists must be ready to respond with confidence.  This session will address what it takes to support a strong IPC program, strengthen a culture of safety, and protect residents, staff, and visitors.

What Do You Mean My Service Plan Isn’t Resident Centered?!
Christy Jacobo (Prestige Senior Living)

This session provides an overview of resident-centered care and the key compliance requirements for Washington Assisted Living communities. Participants will learn how assessments, care planning, documentation, resident rights, and responding to significant changes support quality care, regulatory compliance, and positive resident outcomes. This session emphasizes practical strategies for delivering safe, person-centered care while maintaining survey readiness.

Art of Investigation
Cynthia McDaniel (Elderwise/NurseLearn)

This session will equip providers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to conduct effective incident investigations. Participants will learn how to move beyond surface-level facts to identify root causes, gather objective information, and document findings clearly and defensibly. This presentation emphasizes a systematic and resident-centered approach to investigations that supports regulatory compliance, reduces repeat incidents, and promotes a culture of risk mitigation and accountability.

Tradeshow Luncheon

Clinical Leadership: The 6^th Star of Quality
Chukk Nielson (Avamere)

5-star ratings reflect outcomes, but they do not capture the leadership that creates them. This session invites nurse leaders, administrators, and owners to reimagine their role and see leadership not as a set of tasks but as a transformative influence – the 6th Star of Quality. When leadership leads with intention, every metric, every survey, every outcome becomes a reflection of the care and culture at the center of the organization.

Every Rate Tells a Story: Idaho, Washington & Medicare Reimbursement Update
Amy Seils (Cascadia Services)

Every picture tells a story, and in reimbursement, the picture is constantly changing. This session will examine the new Idaho and Washington Medicaid rates effective July 1, 2026, highlighting the key drivers behind recent rate changes and what they mean for provider operations and financial performance. By the end of the session, attendees will understand not only what the reimbursement picture looks like today, but also future opportunities, risks, and strategies for success.

Beyond the Fall: Building Safer Pathways in Long-Term Care – Practical Strategies for Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Across the Care Team
Chikal Patel (Optum)

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury, hospitalization, and functional decline in older adults living in long-term care, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living communities. 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, with practical strategies that bring together nursing, rehabilitation, pharmacy, social work, and administrative teams.

From Discharge to Home: Creating Better Outcomes Through Seamless Care Transitions
Jeff Mason (Serengeti Care)

Every successful discharge depends on what happens after a patient leaves the facility. This presentation will focus on reducing readmissions, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening collaboration between hospitals, skilled nursing, assisted living, and home care providers. Participants will learn practical approaches to closing gaps in communication and creating a true continuum of care.

Wednesday, September 16

Ask the Attorneys
Barbara Duffy (Ballard Spahr) Steve Geissler (Aegis) Luke Malek (Idaho)

This interactive session gives you direct access to legal experts who understand the unique challenges facing skilled nursing and assisted living providers. Focusing on regulatory compliance, resident rights, and emerging legal topics affecting assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, no topic is off limits. Submit your questions in advance (cards provided at each table) or ask them live during the session and walk away with practical guidance you can apply immediately.

Ask the HR Experts
Lynette Hatscher (Shared HR Services) Wendi Modarelli (HRT Northwest)

Join a panel of experienced human resources professionals as they answer your most pressing HR questions affecting long-term care providers. Whether you’re navigating hiring and retention, employee relations, leave management, performance issues, investigations, documentation, wage and hour concerns, or workplace culture, this interactive session is your opportunity to receive practical, real-world advice. Submit your questions ahead of time (cards provided at each table) or ask them live and benefit from the discussion with your peers.

Ask the Insurance Experts
Deanna Winchester (Propel)

Join a panel of insurance and risk management professionals as they answer your questions about liability, property and casualty coverage, cyber liability, claims management, loss prevention, and emerging risks impacting long-term care providers. Whether you’re looking to better understand your policies or reduce your organization’s exposure, this interactive session offers practical insights and expert guidance. Submit your questions (cards provided at each table) in advance or ask them live during the session.

Beyond the Dementia Behaviors – What Actually Works: International Evidence From thousands of Care Organizations from Asia, America and Europe
João Pärtel Araújo

This session covers techniques that actually reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms such as care resistance and aggression, and their consequences. Leaders will see real before/after data from multi-country implementations, understand why “read the resident’s needs” has unwillingly disempowered staff instead of helping them, and be introduced to the shift the whole day is built on: from subjective, unmeasurable care philosophy to skills-based, observable, teachable techniques.

Beyond the Dementia Behaviors – The Skill, Not the Sentiment: Making Great Care Observable
João Pärtel Araújo

This session takes what the best teams in dementia care in the world actually do and breaks it down into a procedure specific enough that a leader can stand in a doorway, see whether it’s happening, and give it a score. Leaders will walk away with a concrete, walk-the-floor checklist of observable markers they can use the next day.

Beyond the Dementia Behaviors – Why It Doesn’t Stick: Building Skills That Survive the Shift
João Pärtel Araújo

This session reveals how to make staff training actually work, why one-time training fails according to implementation science, and why your organization isn’t the exception. Leaders will understand how to build micro-learning and peer-to-peer skill coaching, what AI-supported skill reinforcement looks like in practice, and a practical model for moving staff from knowing what they should do to actually doing it, consistently, even under pressure.

Fees

Provider Member (WHCA or IHCA) Rates

Individual – Full Conference	$399 per person	Includes access to education sessions on all days, Trade Show, and all included meals and evening activities.
Individual  – Tuesday Only	$199 per person	Includes access to education sessions and meals on Tuesday only, as well as the Trade Show.
Individual – Monday or Wednesday Only	$129 per person	Includes access to education sessions and meals on chosen day only.
Group Rate – Full Conference	$399 $299 per person	Buy 3, get 1 free! Group rates are only available to provider members in good standing and for the full conference. All registrants in your group must be from the same facility. Contact thaopham@whca.org to register your team with this discount.

Non-Member Provider Rates

Individual – Full Convention	$798 per person	Includes access to education sessions on all days, Trade Show, and all included meals and evening activities.
Individual – Tuesday Only	$398 per person	Includes access to education sessions and meals on Tuesday only, as well as the Trade Show.
Individual – Monday or Wednesday Only	$258 per person	Includes access to education sessions and meals on chosen day only.

How to register

Provider Member (WHCA or IHCA) Rates

• Step 1 – Reset password. Click here and enter your email address (must be IHCA administrator).
• Step 2 – Check your e-mail and re-set the password.
• Step 3 – Log in here and find Fall Conference and register your facility members.

Only IHCA Administrators are added to the WHCA database. 

Non Member Rates

If you are not a member, create an account here and register.

Hotels

Historic Davenport Hotel

10 S. Post St, Spokane, WA

Spokane’s grandest and most iconic destination, the Historic Davenport Hotel boasts a uniquely lavish experience. Brilliantly reinvented for the 21st century, immerse your stay in the glamour of 100 years of history, glimmering with renewed luster.

Book your room with our special group rate by August 15, 2026 >

Group Room Rates: $185+

Davenport Tower
111 S. Post Street, Spokane WA

Conveniently located just across the street from the Fall Conference venue, the Davenport Tower has a bold, contemporary style that will make your stay in Spokane memorable. With an onsite restaurant and bar, indoor pool, fitness center, and a safari-inspired decor to feed your love of travel, the Tower has everything you need to recharge after a day of education and networking.

Parking

Self-parking at The Historic Davenport Hotel is available in our garage on the southwest corner of First Avenue and Post with fee. Valet Parking is also available with fee.

Exhibitors

Associate Business Members – Business Partners (WHCA or IHCA)

Associate Business members are invited to attend the 2026 WHCA+IHCA Fall Conference to network with provider members, make connections at the trade show, and demonstrate their commitment to the long-term care community through sponsorship. Please note: registration to attend the Fall Conference for networking is limited to those who have purchased any of the following:

• Trade Show Exhibit Tables –Limited Remaining!
• 2026 AB Membership Packages
• Premium Event Sponsorships – Limited Remaining!

AB members who qualify will be able to purchase additional individual registrations for $269 each. These registrations include access to networking activities such as the Welcome Reception and Fun Night, as well as included meals. If you have purchased a qualifying package or sponsorship and would like to add additional networking registrations for your team members, please contact members@whca.org.

How to register

Associate Business Members – Business Partners (WHCA or IHCA) Rates

• Step 1 – Reset password. Click here and enter your email address (must be IHCA administrator).
• Step 2 – Check your e-mail and re-set the password.
• Step 3 – Log in here and find Fall Conference and register your facility members.

Only IHCA Administrators are added to the WHCA database. 

Sponsorship Opportunity

Non Member Rates

If you are not a member, create an account here and register.

If you have problems, please email Angelaewing@whca.org.

Casino Night

Tuesday, September 15
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Come roll the dice, try your luck, and play your best hand at the WHCA + IHCA Fall Conference Casino Night! This exciting evening is included in your event registration. Enjoy tasty refreshments and delectable drinks as you hit the tables with old friends, new connections, and favorite colleagues. More information coming soon!