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Intergenerational panel discusses WA Cares on ‘The Day With Trae’

Converge Media debuted a special episode of The Day With Trae on Thursday night featuring an intergenerational panel discussing the WA Cares Fund, a first-in-the-nation public long-term care insurance program designed to provide working families affordable long-term care coverage. The panel included Aging and Disability Services Director Mary Mitchell, King County Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Pamela Williams, and Seattle Youth Employment Program intern Arianne Rosario.

If you missed it, the special will air again on Converge’s YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn channels at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and again on Monday, Nov. 4. Or you can just go ahead and watch it here right now.

The Day With Trae: WA Cares panel

The WA Cares Fund ensures all working Washingtonians can earn access to long-term care. Workers contribute a small percentage of their income into the fund over time to qualify for an earned benefit. Beginning July 2026, eligible participants can access long-term care services and supports costing up to $36,500 (adjusted annually up to inflation). This will help fund services for people who need help with their mobility, personal hygiene, eating, taking medications, or other assistance they may need to stay safe and healthy.

“WA Cares is a benefit that will provide support for activities of daily living when we need it,” Mitchell said. “Most people make sure they have health insurance in place. They have car insurance. But the data shows that only a third of people in Washington, prior to this benefit, had long-term care insurance. For me, it provides a real assurance that if something happens to me that my children won’t have to drastically alter their lives to take care of me.”

Converge Media is an Emmy Award-winning producer of culturally relevant content in Seattle and across the Pacific Northwest. They create documentaries, short films, television shows, editorial and creative writing, podcasts, and local news coverage curated specifically for an urban audience. The Day With Trae features TraeAnna Holiday as she brings a variety of guests to the Black Media Matters Studio to discuss themes like health and wellness, fashion, travel, business, and more.