Who’s eligible?

Nominees working in the skilled nursing, senior living or home care sectors are eligible for recognition. They work in skilled nursing or post-acute care; in senior living, including affordable senior housing, active adult, independent living, assisted living, memory care or life plan / continuing care retirement communities; or in home care, home health or hospice care. Direct care providers, managers, executives, corporate executives and owners are eligible. Those who serve the field indirectly, such as via associations or as thought leaders, also may apply. Women who work for vendor companies serving the long-term care industry are eligible only in the Commercial Excellence category. 

Hall of Honor

Candidates should be senior-level professionals in the C-suite or at a level equivalent to vice president or higher and should have made a significant impact on their organizations or on the senior living, skilled nursing or home care field.

Hall of Honor nomination criteria (please provide as much detail as possible within the word limits of each section. Quantitative information will help the judges.)

• Job history (maximum 300 words)

• The nominee’s exceptional achievements and contributions or service. This information also can include outside activities, such as charitable efforts, academic accomplishments, family or personal interests. Please provide as much quantitative information as possible. (300 words max)

• Is there anything else about your nominee that you would like the judging panel to consider? (optional) (maximum 300 words)

• Finally, tell us why the judges should select this nominee.

Veteran VIPs

Candidates will have more than 15 years of experience of making an impact on the senior living, skilled nursing or home care field and generally will be at a level lower than vice president or its equivalent. Whether as a community/facility/agency administrator or executive director; or as a director of nursing, health/wellness or activities; or through some other position, nominees must have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the senior living and care industry through their accomplishments.

Veteran VIPs nomination criteria (please provide as much detail as possible within the word limits of each section. Quantitative information will help the judges.):

• Job history (maximum 300 words)

• The nominee’s exceptional achievements and contributions or service. This information also can include outside activities, such as charitable efforts, academic accomplishments, family or personal interests. Please provide as much quantitative information as possible. (300 words max)

• Is there anything else about your nominee that you would like the judging panel to consider? (optional) (maximum 300 words)

• Finally, tell us why the judges should select this nominee.

Rising Stars 

Candidates must be aged 40 or fewer years or have fewer than 15 years of experience in the profession. Also, they must have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the senior living and care industry. Their achievements/accomplishments may include, for example, managing a project, developing a campaign or contributing to the field via research or thought leadership.

Rising Stars nomination criteria (please provide as much detail as possible within the word limits of each section. Quantitative information will help the judges.):

• Job history (maximum 300 words)

• The nominee’s exceptional achievements and contributions or service. This information also can include outside activities, such as charitable efforts, academic accomplishments, family or personal interests. Please provide as much quantitative information as possible. (300 words max)

• Is there anything else about your nominee that you would like the judging panel to consider? (optional) (maximum 300 words)

• Finally, tell us why the judges should select this nominee.

Spirit Award

This award will recognize inspiring caregiving and service provision efforts that go above and beyond a person’s job description. Eligibility is open to women working in skilled nursing, senior living, home care/home health or hospice who have demonstrated acts of bravery, courage, perseverance, dedication, determination — or other noble gestures — inside or outside of work. A person’s positive attitude or performance of job duties will not satisfy the criteria. The awardees will be celebrated in conjunction with the McKnight’s Women of Distinction program. Nominations for this award may be submitted at no charge.

• Describe what exemplary thing this person did. (100 words)

• What makes it so inspirational? (100 words)

• Please provide any additional information you would like the judging panel to know.

Please note that any box with a * is a required field. To help the judges and increase your nominee's chances of being recognized, please provide as much information as possible as requested on the nomination form. Please also include a color headshot of the nominee with your nomination.

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Commercial Excellence Award

This award, in its second year for the 2026 awards program, recognizes a vendor whose unique contributions have helped move the sector forward.

Note: Only vendors serving the long-term care field are eligible to be nominated for this award, and this is the only category in which vendors can be nominated. Vendor companies serving the industry, as well as skilled nursing, senior living and home care providers, may nominate vendors/vendor partners in this category.

Eligibility Requirements

This category honors women working at vendor companies that provide products, services or solutions to the skilled nursing, senior living or home care sectors. Nominees should exemplify exceptional leadership, innovation or notable contributions that have significantly advanced the mission, operations or quality of care within the long-term care industry.

Eligible nominees may hold roles such as executives, directors, project managers or other pivotal positions in organizations offering critical solutions including, but not limited to, technology, equipment, consulting, staffing, training or other key services. Their work should demonstrate a clear and positive impact on operators, caregivers or residents/patients/clients by driving measurable improvements, fostering collaboration or promoting excellence across the sector.

This award category is open only to vendors serving long-term care providers. Women eligible for other categories in the Women of Distinction program are not eligible for this award.

Commercial Excellence Award nomination criteria (please provide as much detail as possible within the word limits of each section. Quantitative information will help the judges.):

• Job history (maximum 300 words)

• The nominee’s exceptional achievements and contributions or service. This information also can include outside activities, such as charitable efforts, academic accomplishments, family or personal interests. Please provide as much quantitative information as possible. (300 words max)

• Is there anything else about your nominee that you would like the judging panel to consider? (optional) (maximum 300 words)

• Finally, tell us why the judges should select this nominee. How does the nominee excel at providing products, services or solutions to the skilled nursing, senior living and/or home care sectors? How does she exemplify exceptional leadership, innovation or notable contributions that have significantly advanced the mission, operations or quality of care within the long-term care industry?

The deadline to submit nominations is Jan. 9, 2026.

See coverage of last year's event at McKnights.com, McKnightsSeniorLiving.com and McKnightsHomeCare.com.

Nominate someone today! 

Nomination Fees

Standard entry fee: $135

Extended entry fee: $155

Nomination Deadlines

Standard nomination deadline: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Extended nomination deadline: Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
 

Nomination Rules

• McKnight’s Women of Distinction nominees must work in North America. 

• Women honored in previous years are not eligible for nomination in the same category this year.

• Any person who identifies as a woman is eligible to be nominated.

• Women may nominate themselves.

• All entries must be submitted and paid for online no later than Jan. 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. 
   

All information shared with McKnight’s Long Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living or McKnight’s Home Care as part of the nomination process will be considered part of the public domain and potentially will be included in the honoree’s profile and/or a program for the event celebrating the honorees.

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