Friday, Jan. 12, is the new final nomination deadline for the 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards program. All submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET.

Nominations for the Rising Star, Veteran VIP and Hall of Honor categories (described below) during this extended nomination period carry a $119 entry fee. Nominations for the Spirit award are being accepted at no charge.

The program, now in its sixth year, is coordinated by McKnight’s Home Care, Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Entries began being accepted Nov. 7, and the standard nomination period ended Jan. 5.

Since the program began in 2019, 252 women in the fields of home care, senior living or skilled nursing have been honored across multiple award categories.

Eligible for recognition are women working as direct care providers, managers, executives, corporate executives and owners in home care, home health, hospice and palliative care as well as those working in those capacities in independent living, assisted living, memory care and life plan communities, and in skilled nursing facilities. 

Women who serve the fields indirectly — for instance as association staff members, academicians or thought leaders — also are eligible for recognition. Individuals working for vendor companies serving the industry are not eligible.

The nomination categories:

  • 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 organization or the industry.
  • Veteran VIP: Candidates should have more than 15 years of experience making an impact in long-term care and should be at a level lower than vice president or its equivalent. Whether as a community/facility administrator or executive director; or as a director of nursing, health/wellness or activities; or through some other position, they must have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the senior living and care industry through their accomplishments.
  • Rising Star: 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. Those achievements/accomplishments may include, for example, managing a project, developing a campaign or contributing to the field via research or thought leadership.
  • Spirit Award: This award recognizes inspiring caregiving and service provision efforts. Eligibility is open to women who have demonstrated acts of bravery, courage, perseverance, dedication, determination — or other noble gestures.

Nominators for the Rising Star, Veteran VIP and Hall of Honor categories should be prepared to share detailed qualitative and quantitative information about nominees’ work histories, exceptional achievements and contributions or service, and anything else the judging panel should consider. Nominators for the Spirit Award should be prepared to detail the actions that qualify the potential honoree for the recognition. 

A Lifetime Achievement Award winner also will be named.

All honorees will be celebrated at an in-person event on Tuesday, May 14, in Chicago that also will recognize inductees from previous years. Some information about the event, which also will include educational sessions, is available now at mcknightswomenofdistinction.com. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

For more information about the awards, or to submit a nomination for them, visit mcknightswomenofdistinction.com.

Questions should be directed to Anna Naumoski, senior event manager for Haymarket Media, the parent company of McKnight’s, at [email protected].

Read about previous award winners here. See lists of previous classes of honorees here.

Sponsors of the 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards and Forum program include Curana Health, DirecTV for Business, Healthcare Services Group, PharMerica, Priority Life Care and ShiftKey.