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AHCA/NCAL is excited to announce that its in-house magazine, Provider, will now host the association's individual awards program. The Provider ACE (Achieving Care Excellence) Awards, formerly known as the AHCA/NCAL Awards Program, recognizes the outstanding contributions of long term and post-acute care professionals from around the country.

The Provider ACE Awards reflect a refreshed vision that captures the innovation, dedication, and excellence demonstrated by long term and post-acute caregivers. While the name and look are new, the heart of the program remains the same: honoring individuals who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional care, lead with purpose, and strengthen the profession.

All care professionals working in AHCA/NCAL member facilities are encouraged to apply, including those serving in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID), and other individuals who work in the long term care field, including direct care, education, and research.

While the Provider ACE Awards honor individuals in our profession, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program continues to recognize long term care facilities and organizations for performance excellence. Learn more

Members may nominate eligible candidates for the following Provider ACE Awards: ​

​AHCA Leader of the Year Award​

​AHCA Leader of the Year Award​

This award recognizes an Administrator/Executive Director, Director of Nursing, or someone in a regional leadership position who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in their provision of high-quality, person-centered care in a service-oriented culture in a long term care facility.​

AHCA Noble Caregiver Award

AHCA Noble Caregiver Award

This award recognizes frontline caregivers, support and office staff from any department for their contributions that lead to improved quality of life for the residents and create a better work environment for the facility's staff. This includes, but is not limited to, direct care staff from nursing (also includes CNAs, LNAs, and LPNs), therapists, support/office staff, housekeeping, dietary, activities/recreation, laundry, and maintenance departments.​

​NCAL Leader of the Year Award

​NCAL Leader of the Year Award

This award recognizes an assisted living Administrator/Executive Director, Director of Nursing, or someone in a regional leadership position 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. 

​NCAL Noble Caregiver Award

​NCAL Noble Caregiver Award

This award recognizes frontline caregivers, support and office staff 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 (CNAs, LNAs, LPNs), support/office staff, housekeeping, dietary, activities/recreation, laundry, and maintenance departments.

​Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award

​Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award

This award recognizes an individual who has made a significant national contribution to advancing quality performance in long term care. Recipients must consistently advocate for quality approaches and demonstrate the ability to educate and advocate for a system's approach to quality improvement. Recipients also display leadership in the development, promotion, and implementation of quality improvement initiatives that have resulted in measurable improvements in the quality of care and quality of life for individuals in long term care.

The Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award honors the ongoing legacy and commitment to quality care demonstrated by its namesake, Mary Ousley, a licensed nursing home administrator, nurse, and former AHCA Board Chair who has dedicated her life to improve the quality in long term care.

Strong candidates for the award exemplify the following types of contributions: 

  • A catalyst for adoption of innovative approaches that have resulted in measurable improvements in quality.
  • A leader in long term care research and/or interventions that have resulted in significant quality improvement.
  • A champion and leader of performance improvement at the national level in long term care: nursing centers, assisted living, ICFs/IID, and/or post-acute care.
  • An educator and advocate for systematic approaches to quality 

​Jan Thayer Pioneer Award

​Jan Thayer Pioneer Award

NCAL created the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award to recognize individuals who have moved the senior care profession forward, positively affecting the lives of those served and those who serve. Recipients must demonstrate dedication, leadership and considerable contributions to the senior care profession.
The Jan Thayer Pioneer Award is posthumously named after the first Board Chair of NCAL and assisted living owner and operator Jan Thayer.

Strong candidates for the award exemplify the following types of contributions: 

  • Recognized champion and leader of person-centered care in assisted living and senior living communities.
  • Demonstrated ability to educate and advocate for the senior care profession at a national level. 
  • Recognized systems or practices that have resulted in significant quality improvement, prosperous operational outcomes, or an enriching workforce environment.  
  • Recognized as a catalyst for innovative approaches that enhance the overall customer experience and/or move the senior care profession forward.​​

​How To Apply

Nominations will open this spring. All nominations must be submitted electronically via Award Force. Faxed or handwritten nominations are not accepted. 

Nominations will be reviewed by a committee and selected ​by end of July. Successful entrants will be notified once all entries have been scored and confirmed.​​

Recipients

The Provider ACE Awards will be presented at Delivering Solutions 26, AHCA/NCAL's 77th Convention & Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, October 11-14, 2026. Winners receive:

  • ​A full Delivering Solutions Registration package 
  • A full Delivering Solutions Registration package for one guest of their choice
  • One non-transferrable guestroom​ for them and their guest
  • One complimentary round-trip coach airfare from the winner's home city for them and their pre-selected guest
  • A per diem for the winner and their guest of $100 per day to help cover incidental costs

Support

If you have any questions on the entry process, please contact ACEAwards@ahca.org​​.