Join Us – Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Members

HCAM is forming a new committee to judge the association’s Long-Term Care Awards of Excellence. Committee members will review and score nominees in three categories:

1. Gerry Baker Hero of Health Care Award, which honors up to 10 skilled nursing and 10 assisted living employees who go beyond the already high standard long-term care workers set every day.
2. Team of Excellence, which recognizes one skilled nursing and one assisted living team for their exemplary commitment to delivering quality care.
3. Resident of the Year, recognizing one skilled nursing and one assisted living resident who makes a significant contribution to the well-being of fellow residents, the facility, and/or the LTC community.

Details: Committee members will have approximately four weeks to judge the applicants. Typically, the four weeks fall in June each year. Last year, judges reviewed:

• 26 SNF and 7 AL nominations for the Gerry Baker Hero of Health Care Award. This category is the most time-consuming to judge because it receives the most applications each year.
• 9 SNF nominations and 2 AL nominations for Team of Excellence, and
• 6 SNF nominations and 3 AL nominations for Resident of the Year.

For each category, judges will receive a spreadsheet of nominees, their application with essay, and letters of recommendation (required only for Team of Excellence and Resident of the Year), as well as a rubric to help you score each application.

Each year winners are celebrated during a special Awards Luncheon as part of the HCAM Annual Convention. If you have attended this luncheon, you know how meaningful the awards are to the winners, those who nominate them, coworkers, friends and family members. In addition, the awards shine a positive spotlight on the sector and help build community by fostering a sense of pride and belonging. We hope you will consider joining this new committee.

Action Needed: If you have questions or would like to serve on the HCAM Awards Committee, please email HCAM’s Lisa Reibsome by January 5, 2026.