Washington, D.C. — The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living announced the recipients of the 2026 Gold – Excellence in Quality Award on Friday, and only two facilities nationwide earned the distinction.
The honorees are Clarkston Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia in Clarkston, Washington, and Todd-Dickey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Leavenworth, Indiana. Both facilities underwent a rigorous evaluation process that included an on-site assessment by trained examiners to verify their performance excellence practices are fully integrated throughout their organizations.
What It Takes to Reach Gold
The Gold award represents the pinnacle of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which mirrors the criteria used for the prestigious Baldrige National Quality Award. Organizations must demonstrate sustained excellence across multiple dimensions: quality outcomes, leadership, strategic planning, workforce engagement, and resident-centered care.
“The Gold award takes years of commitment and unmatched dedication to quality; it is not something organizations achieve overnight,” said Clif Porter, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “These skilled nursing providers are truly the best of the best.”
A Rare Achievement
Only 60 long term care facilities have reached this award level in the program’s entire 30-year history. This year also marked record participation, with 258 Silver and 908 Bronze recipients announced — the highest numbers ever for those categories.
Clarkston Health and Rehabilitation is a 90-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center that focuses on patient-centered rehabilitation and 24-hour skilled nursing care. Todd-Dickey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 62-bed facility providing long term care, short-term rehabilitation, and specialized memory care for individuals living with dementia.
Industry reports note that CMS recently raised the bar for nursing home quality ratings, making independent recognition like the Gold award increasingly significant for operators seeking to differentiate their facilities in a competitive market.
The 2026 recipients will be celebrated at Delivering Solutions 26, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, October 11-14 in Boston.
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