WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced the recipients for the 2023 AHCA/NCAL Awards program today. Each year, AHCA/NCAL recognizes individuals working in long term and post-acute care centers, as well as those who represent the best in the assisted living sector. These honorees demonstrate a commitment to excellence and improve the lives of seniors and individuals with disabilities in their communities.
“The sense of purpose and commitment to long term care these award recipients possess is truly remarkable,” said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson. “We are thrilled to honor these inspiring leaders and noble caregivers who have successfully enhanced the lives of their residents as well as their colleagues.”
The 2023 AHCA Awards categories and recipients are:
- AHCA Leader of the Year Award: Brodey Hanson, Executive Director of The Bridges at Ankeny in Polk County, IA
Since joining The Bridges at Ankeny in 2018, Brodey Hanson has created a culture of excellence, resulting in The Bridges receiving numerous awards and accolades. He has helped refugees from Iran and Ukraine find housing, education, and on the job training as they relocated to Iowa. Hanson has garnered many personal and professional awards, including one of Business Record’s 2022 Forty Under 40 and the 2022-2023 Governor’s Award for Quality of Care, Iowa’s highest honor. As a trusted advisor, Hanson serves on three different Iowa boards and is sought out from two different colleges that specialize in nursing home administrator licensure.
- AHCA Noble Caregiver Award: Season Hull, CNA at Franklin County Transitional Care in Preston, ID
Season Hull has been a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Franklin County Transitional Care in Preston, ID for the last five years. As a mentor to the other CNAs at Franklin County Transitional Care, she uses a variety of educational techniques to help other staff members develop skills based on individual residents’ needs and teaches staff about the “little things” that make a big difference for each resident. While working full-time, Hull attends nursing school to become a registered nurse, takes care of her family, and their family farm.
The 2023 NCAL Awards categories and recipients are:
- NCAL Leader of the Year Award: Cecilia Owsley, COO and Chief Nursing Officer for Guardian Angel Homes in Post Falls, ID
As the Chief Operations and Nursing Officer, Cecilia Owsley utilizes her unique talents to guide the nursing and administration teams of Guardian Angel Homes, across three states and four facilities. Steering them towards achieving higher standards of compassionate, person-centered care. Her unwavering dedication is directed towards cultivating a culture of leadership within her organization, where she passionately encourages growth mindsets, emotional intelligence development, mentorship and coaching, holistic wellness, and empowerment. Simultaneously, her advocacy for enhanced senior care reverberates on both state and federal platforms. Active in her role as a board member at the Idaho Health Care Association and as the Idaho NCAL State Leader, she becomes the voice for those often underserved or overshadowed. Her proactive engagement empowers her to amplify the voices of residents, ensuring their needs and dignity remain at the forefront.
- NCAL Noble Caregiver Award: Marty Duncan, Office Manager of Lakeview Assisted Living in Battle Creek, MI
As the beloved Office Manager since 2013, Marty Duncan is the heartbeat of Lakeview Assisted Living. On any given day, Duncan is typically dancing around the lobby, encouraging anyone who is in the vicinity to join her. When a resident or family member seeks her out, she stops everything to focus on them. She listens and communicates the needs and wants of each resident and family to the appropriate department and follows up regularly to ensure the resident is the number one focus. People go to her for a daily dose of inspiration, a smile, a laugh, a listening ear—no matter the need, she is there to encourage, validate, or offer encouragement.
The AHCA & NCAL Leader of the Year awards recognize 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.
The AHCA & NCAL Noble Caregiver awards recognize 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.
AHCA/NCAL award recipients will be honored during a formal ceremony at Delivering Solutions 23, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, held this October in Denver, CO.