WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), which represents more than 15,000 long term and post-acute care providers across the country, today announced the recipients of the 2026 Gold – Excellence in Quality Award, the most prestigious and esteemed award level of the association’s National Quality Award Program. The program recognizes long term and post-acute care organizations that meet progressively rigorous standards of quality to improve the lives of their residents. Gold recipients are among the best providers in the nation, recognized for their exceptional performance driven by sustainable, systematic, and effective practices.
The 2026 Gold – Excellence in Quality Award recipients are:
Clarkston Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia (Clarkston, Washington): a 90-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center dedicated to providing personalized care that enhances the well-being and quality of life of every resident. Focusing on patient-centered rehabilitation and 24-hour skilled nursing care, the Clarkston team develops individualized treatment plans tailored to each resident's unique needs and goals in a compassionate, supportive environment. Guided by its commitment to always be a “Force for Good” in every interaction, the organization fosters a culture to always do the right thing each day. This dedication to continuous quality improvement and person-centered care has established Clarkston as a trusted resource in its community and reflects its unwavering commitment to excellence in long term and post-acute care.
Todd-Dickey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Leavenworth, Indiana): a 62-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center providing long term care, short-term rehabilitation, and specialized memory care for individuals living with dementia. As part of American Senior Communities, Todd-Dickey is guided by its mission "to compassionately serve each customer with quality care and excellence." At the heart of the organization is a strong sense of community, fostering a culture of “family taking care of family” that reflects the values of its close-knit rural community. Through its CARE values of Compassion, Accountability, Relationships, and Excellence, Todd-Dickey creates an environment where meaningful relationships, dignity, independence, and quality of life remain at the center of everything it does.
“The Gold award takes years of commitment and unmatched dedication to quality; it is not something organizations achieve overnight. They have engaged their teams and worked diligently for years,” said Clif Porter, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “These skilled nursing providers are truly the best of the best, and they should be incredibly proud of what they've accomplished. Their leadership is raising the bar for our entire profession.”
At the Gold level, organizations must demonstrate sustained excellence in quality outcomes, leadership, strategic planning, workforce engagement, and resident-centered care. Gold recipients undergo a rigorous evaluation process, including an on-site assessment by trained examiners, to verify that their performance excellence practices are fully integrated throughout the organization and consistently deliver exceptional results. Only 60 long term care facilities have reached this award level in program history.
This year, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary. Since its establishment in 1996, more than 8,000 providers across the country have participated in the rigorous program to strengthen their operations, improve outcomes, and enhance the lives of residents and staff. This milestone anniversary highlights the program’s lasting impact on advancing quality care throughout the long term care profession.
“Achieving this level of excellence is incredibly rare, and these providers have earned their place,” said Cathy Bergland, AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board Chair. “The rigorous evaluation process ensures that only those who consistently demonstrate excellence receive this recognition. These recipients have set themselves apart as role models for the profession, and their achievement is one worth celebrating.”
This year, AHCA/NCAL announced 258 Silver and 908 Bronze recipients – the highest number of recipients for both categories in the program’s history. The 2026 recipients will be celebrated at Delivering Solutions 26, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, October 11-14, 2026, in Boston, Mass.
The 2026 National Quality Award Program is supported by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members: McKesson, Prevail by First Quality, Incite Workforce Solutions Powered by SnapCare, and HealthCap.