Change is in the air, it seems, in the home care world. You only had to hear the opening keynote address at the annual National Association for Home Care & Hospice conference in Washington, DC, this week to know that.

The merger between NAHC and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is in the works with plans for it to take effect next year. And it may leave a vacancy at the top of the joint organization. It’s hard to imagine, but William Dombi, the president of NAHC and the face of home care in many respects, soon may no longer serve at the helm. A strange and sobering thought.

There was another reminder of leadership change this week. Vicki Hoak, the newly crowned CEO emeritus of the Home Care Association of America, talked to me in a podcast about her four years in charge of HCAOA, her legacy and the challenges ahead for the field. In a few days, she will join her 4,500+ members at a national conference in Chicago at which she will reflect on her time and accomplishments in home care advocacy.

Dombi and Hoak are at the apex of their professions. To celebrate the contributions of Dombi, Hoak and countless other home care leaders, McKnight’s is holding its second-annual Pinnacle Awards. The standard nomination deadline is Friday, Oct. 20.

Professionals with at least 20 years of experience who still are active in the home care, senior living and skilled nursing fields are eligible to be nominated. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

The program offers multiple awards across several tracks.

  • Home care / home health / hospice — for-profit and nonprofit
  • Senior living (independent living, assisted living, memory care and/or continuing care retirement/life plan community) — for-profit
  • Senior living (independent living, assisted living, memory care and/or continuing care retirement/life plan community) — nonprofit
  • Skilled nursing — for-profit
  • Skilled nursing — nonprofit

There are several awards categories:

  • Setting the Standard Award
  • Agent of Change Award
  • Inspiration Award
  • Thought Leader Award
  • Unsung Hero Award

    Awards also will given in these two categories, covering all tracks:
  • Industry Ally (for elected officials, high-level government administrators, trade group members, analysts, influential academics or researchers, other thought leaders, etc.)
  • Business Partner (for vendors/sponsors that have helped move the sector forward)

In addition, one Career Achievement Award will be bestowed, as determined by program organizers.

Is there a home care giant, like Dombi or Hoak, you would like to recognize? What better way than a McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards nomination?

Nominations also will be accepted until an extended deadline of Nov. 5.

Liza Berger is editor of McKnight’s Home Care. Email her at [email protected].