2026 Senior Living Awards
Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their outstanding contributions and commitment to delivering quality care to others? Be sure to nominate them for a 2026 Senior Living Award!
With IHCA/INCAL’s Senior Living Award program, we help honor those working and volunteering in nursing facilities and assisted living communities. Each year, three Senior Living Award recipients are named Caregiver of the Year. Recipients are nominated online by their peers and then selected based on those nominations. There is only one question to answer for a nomination: Tell A Story About the Nominee. Tell a story that details why this nominee is deserving of the award. Please give specific examples that make the nominee unique.
Nominations close May 4
We look forward to celebrating this year’s awardees during a Senior Living Awards luncheon ceremony at the 2026 IHCA/INCAL Convention & Expo on Aug. 18 at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. Awardees also receive a free Convention & Expo registration, one guest awards luncheon ticket, a free hotel room at the JW Marriott Indianapolis and a cash prize. The nominator will receive a free Convention & Expo registration.
To learn more, click here.
Check out last year’s recipients below
2025 Assisted living Caregiver of the Year
Brooke Spytma
Heritage Woods of Noblesville, Gardant Management Solutions, Inc.
With 25 years of service in senior care dining, Brooke Spytma brings leadership to her role as dietary manager at Heritage Woods of Noblesville. Watch and learn more about her dedication to involving residents in crafting menu items, cooking family recipes and creating a signature seasoning. Under her care, both your stomach and heart will be full. WATCH AND LEARN MORE ABOUT BROOKE.
2025 Caregiver of the Year
Amanda Cline
Wesleyan Health and Rehabilitation Center, TLC Management
Get moving with Amanda Cline, the activities assistant at Wesleyan Health and Rehab! She connects with residents and families, and with her creativity, passion and love, Amanda makes sure everyone in the Alzheimer’s Unit has a set of angel wings over them. WATCH AND LEARN MORE ABOUT AMANDA.
2025 Caregiver of the Year
Karen Bauer
Adams Woodcrest of Decatur, Adams Health Network
For over 26 years, Karen Bauer has been the cornerstone of Adams Woodcrest of Decatur’s nutritional services department. But her impact extends far beyond the kitchen. As the Clinical Dietary Supervisor, she shows compassion, dedication and innovation in every aspect of her work, making her not just a leader, but a valued presence in the lives of residents and alike. WATCH AND LEARN MORE ABOUT KAREN.
Culinary Caregiver Competition
2025 Culinary Caregiver Champion
Zakkary Hackerd
Indiana Veteran’s Home
Competition heats up in this year’s IHCA/INCAL Culinary Caregiver Competition, where chefs from long-term care communities showcase the cooking skills they use to provide quality food for quality care! WATCH AND SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN!
Long-Term Care Champion
2025 Public Servant of the Year
State Sen. Liz Brown
State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) (pictured, far left) is a devoted state policymaker who tirelessly fights for Hoosier seniors, individuals with disabilities and health care practitioners. She has successfully passed numerous bills into law that are strengthening the long-term care workforce, holding insurance companies accountable, and enhancing Medicaid services for vulnerable and elderly Hoosiers. On behalf of Indiana’s long-term care industry, it is an honor to recognize Sen. Brown as a Long-Term Care Champion and to present her with this year’s IHCA/INCAL Public Servant of the Year Award.