As the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) celebrates its 25th anniversary, assisted living providers nationwide continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to quality. Every day, communities support older adults with compassion, innovation, and person-centered care—work that is increasingly vital as the Baby Boomer generation enters the long term and post-acute care continuum in unprecedented numbers.
A powerful reflection of this commitment is the
AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program.
In 2026, assisted living providers achieved a new milestone: the highest number of participating communities in the program’s history. This record-setting engagement shows how deeply providers value structured, proven pathways to organizational excellence.
The program’s three level framework—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—helps organizations strengthen leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, workforce engagement, operations management, and outcomes. Grounded in the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, it remains one of the most comprehensive and cost-effective assessment tools in the assisted living profession.
A distinguishing feature of the program is its rigorous external feedback process. Trained examiners provide objective insights that help organizations identify gaps, validate effective systems, and prioritize data driven quality improvement. Providers consistently report that participation builds stronger teams, enhances collaboration, and elevates performance across a variety of metrics.
Ultimately, the National Quality Award Program delivers value far beyond recognition. It supports stronger daily operations, clearer communication with families, improved workforce engagement, and safer, more person-centered care—leading to better outcomes and a more stable environment for residents.
As NCAL marks 25 years of advancing assisted living, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program reflects the profession’s progress and provides a roadmap for continued excellence.