Please consider nominating individuals, groups or organizations for one of several recognition opportunities for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Some submission guidelines and processes, including deadlines specific to state-level consideration, have changed so please review each category carefully.

National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) Administrator of the Year Award recognizes an assisted living administrator who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in their provision of high quality person-centered care in a service-oriented culture in an assisted living community. The winners will be recognized at a ceremony on NCAL Day in October 2012 in Tampa, Florida. View eligibility criteria and the nomination form, which can be submitted directly to NCAL by TBD.

National Center for Assisted Living Nurse of the Year Award recognizes an assisted living licensed practical or registered nurse who demonstrates outstanding compassion, supervisory success, innovation, achievement, and capabilities in their provision of high quality resident-centered care in a service-oriented culture in an assisted living community. The winners will be recognized at a ceremony on NCAL Day in October 2012 in Tampa, Florida. View eligibility criteria and the nomination form, which can be submitted directly to NCAL by TBD.

National and Nebraska Assisted Living Programming Award nominees are evaluated on their successful incorporation of the 2011 National Assisted Living Week theme (Forever Proud) into their activity plans and implementation resulting in outstanding special activities and community events for their residents, families, staff, and volunteers to enjoy. New this year: submission of one nomination form enters the nominee for consideration at both state and national levels. All nominations submitted to the Nebraska Assisted Living Association (NALA), will be forwarded to NCAL for national consideration. NALA will present a state-level Assisted Living Week Programming Award at the NHCA/NALA Fall Convention in Lincoln in September 2012. NCAL winners will be recognized at a ceremony on NCAL Day in October 2012 in Tampa, Florida. View eligibility criteria and the nomination form.

National Center for Assisted Living Noble Caregiver in Assisted Living Award recognizes frontline caregivers from any department for their contributions that lead to improved quality of life for the residents and create a better work environment for the assisted living community’s staff. This includes, but is not limited to, direct care staff from nursing (does not include licensed nurses), housekeeping, dietary, activities/recreation, laundry, and maintenance departments. Winning nominations from the 2012 NALA Direct Care Staff Awards, which will be presented at the NHCA/NALA Spring Convention in April 2012, will automatically be forwarded for national consideration of an NCAL Noble Caregiver in Assisted Living Award.

National and Nebraska Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes volunteers in a nursing home or assisted living facility who have made special contributions to the quality of life of long term care residents. Submission of one nomination form to NHCA/NALA, enters the nominee for consideration at both state and national levels in the following categories: Adult, Young Adult and Group. All nominations submitted to NHCA/NALA will be forwarded to AHCA/NCAL for national consideration. NHCA/NALA will present a state-level Volunteer of the Award for each category at the NHCA/NALA Fall Convention in Lincoln in September 2012. AHCA/NALA will recognize national-level winners at the AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida in October 2012.

Not-for-Profit Facility of the Year Award recognizes not-for-profit facilities for innovative services, community benefit programs, and overall mission-based operations that improve the quality of life of residents and the communities at large. The 2012 NFP Facility of the Year Award nomination deadline is TBD, and can be submitted directly to AHCA as directed on the nomination form.

NALA Annual Awards will be awarded in each of the following categories: Activities, Administration, Environmental Services, Nursing, and Nutrition Services. One group award that includes two or more individuals from the above categories will also be presented at the NHCA/NALA Fall Convention in Lincoln in September 2012. View award nomination forms and guidelines. The deadline for 2012 nominations is TBD.

Scholarships
Several scholarships are also awarded during the Annual Convention. The deadline for 2012 annual scholarship applications is TBD. Visit the Nebraska Health Care Foundation Web page for details.