Vertical cell alignment from table generator off

Question

I am using a table generator to create several tables as a part of my dissertation. When merging cells, I am having issues with text running out of the bottom of the cell because the vertical alignment seems to default to the top of the bottom-most adjacent cell instead of the top-most adjacent cell. How can I align the text of a merged cell with the top of adjacent cells?

\begin{landscape}
\begin{table}[]
\caption{My caption}
\label{my-label}
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline
\rowcolor[HTML]{C0C0C0} 
\textbf{Task} & \textbf{Description} & \textbf{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Associated\\ Strategy\end{tabular}} & \textbf{Definition} & \textbf{Exemplar} & \textbf{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Non-\\ exemplar,\\ other info.\end{tabular}} & \textbf{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Topical\\ turn \\ coding\end{tabular}} \\ \hline &  & Explanation & \begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Definition of term, \\ description of how \\ something works \\ (e.g. treatment), \\ how to complete\\  a task, often related\\  to medical or ED\\  processes\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Interpreter defining \\ colloquial term \\ "mad de orine"\\ which does not have\\ a direct translation\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Falls into updating \\ common ground \\ (not maintaining)\\  when information \\ is known by other \\ communication partners\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Current\\ turn\end{tabular} \\ \cline{3-7} &  &  &  & 
\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Interpreter arrives, \\ clarifies point in \\ patient's care \\ with registrar\end{tabular} &  &  \\ \cline{5-5} &  & \multirow{-2}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Bringing \\ up to \\ speed\end{tabular}} & \multirow{-2}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Specifically occurs \\ when a new \\ communication \\ partner enters an \\ exchange and are\\  informed about\\  what they have \\ missed in the\\  exchange\end{tabular}} & 
\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Nurse presenting \\ patient to tele-triage \\ physician\end{tabular} & \multirow{-2}{*}{None} & \multirow{-2}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Current\\ turn\end{tabular}} \\ \cline{3-7}  &  &  &  & \begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}"Let them know you \\ can't swallow pills." - \\ Patient wife to patient\end{tabular} &  &  \\ \cline{5-5} \multirow{-5}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Common\\ ground - \\ update\end{tabular}} & \multirow{-5}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Describing \\ information \\ known by other \\ communication\\  partners. This\\  may include: \[![enter image description here][1]][1]\ introducing new\\  people to an \\ ongoing joint \\ project or \\ explaining \\ information \\ known by other \\ communication \\ partners.\end{tabular}} & \multirow{-2}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Providing/ \\ gaining\\ information\end{tabular}} & \multirow{-2}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Catch all for asking\\  for or providing \\ information known\\  by other \\ communication partners \\ (possibly already \\ discussed)\end{tabular}} & 
\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Patient asking nurse \\ for updates on tests \\ doctor was ordering\end{tabular} & \multirow{-2}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Specific to care of \\ given patient as \\ opposed to explanations\\  of ED or medical \\ processes which would\\ be classified as\\ explanations\end{tabular}} & \multirow{-2}{*}{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}l@{}}Current\\ turn\end{tabular}} \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{landscape}

Answer 1

Is this conversion that you want?

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[margin=2.5cm]{geometry}
\usepackage{lscape}
\usepackage[table]{xcolor}
\usepackage{ragged2e}
\usepackage{caption}
\usepackage{makecell, multirow, tabularx}
\renewcommand{\theadfont}{\normalsize\bfseries}

\begin{document}

\begin{landscape}
\begin{table}[]
\setlength{\extrarowheight}{3pt}
\setlength{\tabcolsep}{4pt}
\caption{My caption}
\label{my-label}
\begin{tabularx}{\linewidth}{|l|>{\RaggedRight\arraybackslash}X|p{20mm}|*{3}{>{\RaggedRight\arraybackslash}X|}p{21mm}|}
\hline
\rowcolor[HTML]{C0C0C0}
\textbf{Task} & \textbf{Description} & \thead[l]{Associated\\ Strategy} & \textbf{Definition} & \textbf{Exemplar} & \thead[l]{Non-exemplar,\\ other info. } & \thead[l]{Topical\\ turn coding} \\
\hline
%
\renewcommand{\cellalign}{lc}\multirow{15.2}{*}{\makecell[l]{Common\\ ground - \\ update}}
 & \multirow{16}{=}{Describing information known by other communication partners. This may include: \newline ![enter image description here][1]][1]\newline introducing new people to an ongoing joint project or explaining information known by other communication partners.}
 & Explanation
 & Definition of term, \newline%
 description of how something works (e.g. treatment), how to complete a task, often related to medical or ED processes
 & Interpreter defining colloquial term "mad de orine" which does not have a direct translation
 & Falls into updating common ground (not maintaining) when information is known by other communication partners
 & \multirow{4.5}{=}{Current turn} \\
 \cline{3-7}& &
& \multirow[t]{2}{=}{Specifically occurs when a new communication partner enters an exchange and are informed about what they have missed in the exchange}
& Interpreter arrives, clarifies point in patient's care with registrar
& & \\
\cline{5-5}
&
 & \multirow{-2}{=}{Bringing up to speed} &
 & Nurse presenting %\\
 patient to tele-triage %\\
  physician
 & \multirow{-2}{=}{None} & \multirow{-2}{=}{Current turn}
\\[8ex] \cline{3-7}
& & & \multirow[t]{2}{=}{Catch all for asking for or providing information known by other communication partners (possibly already discussed)}
& "Let them know you can't swallow pills." – Patient wife to patient
& \multirow[t]{2}{=}{Specific to care of given patient as opposed to explanations of ED or medical processes which would be classified as explanation}
& \\
\cline{5-5}
& & \multirow{-2}{=}{Providing/ gaining information}
&
& Patient asking nurse for updates on tests doctor was ordering
&
 & \multirow{-2}{=}{Current turn}
 \\ \hline
\end{tabularx}
\end{table}
\end{landscape}

\end{document}