ALFA Best of the Best Awards

The ALFA Best of the Best awards recognize innovative new programs and services that are creating the future of senior living.  In 2013, awards and recognition will focus on programs and initiatives advancing excellence by addressing significant topics and trends influencing the future of senior living.  ALFA also recognizes unique programs as Programs to Spotlight or Programs to Watch.

Learn more about the Best of the Best Program

Award Categories

Thirteen topic categories will recognize one program, product or service in each category.  The categories are: 

• Preparing for More Residents with Greater Needs
  Seniors moving into senior living communities or currently residing in one have greater service and care needs than ever before.  How is your company or community preparing to serve more residents in need of more attention? What specific program or strategy is your company pursuing to embrace more residents with greater needs?

• Serving as a Resource to Local Health Care Providers
  While senior living communities cannot officially join accountable care organizations, local health providers are recognizing the important role senior living communities and their third party partners can play in reducing the chance of readmission by residents to the hospital.  What is your company doing to serve as a “partner of choice” for local health care systems?

• Equipping Community Staff with Mobile Technology
  Many senior living providers are beginning to look at mobile technology as a tool for staff to provide better service and care to residents.  Has your company taken the plunge into mobile technology for staff members who serve the seniors?

• Honoring the Life of a Resident Following His or Her Death
  A resident death is always heart wrenching at the community.  But, many communities have established programs or simple acts of recognition to honor the life of a resident following his or her death. What does your community do that is extra special?

• Encouraging New Resident Engagement in the First 90 Days
  Moving to a new home is not easy for anyone.  What sort of program or special touches does your company or community offer to new residents and their families to make them feel at home in the first 90 days?

• Reducing Resident and Staff Injury in the Community
  Accidents do happen, but companies have been introducing programs to reduce the chances of injuries and accidents.  What new initiative or program has your company or community developed to reduce accidents and injuries among residents and staff and build these safety measures into your culture?

• Supporting Families of Residents During Transitional Times
  Making the decision with their mothers or fathers to move a loved one into senior living is not easy for adult children.  How are communities supporting families during the first few months of the move – so the adult children truly enjoy peace of mind and quality time with their loved one? And, what does your community do to make families feel welcomed as part of the community and reaffirm to families that they made a good decision in choosing your senior living community?

• Meaningful Resident Programs Creating Purposeful Days
  Interesting activities and programs are important, but what is your company doing to create meaningful and purposeful programs for residents to engage with each other as well as engage in their own hobbies, interests and passions?

• Creating Greater Return on Investment in Leadership Development
  Nurturing leadership in an organization ensures a pipeline of future, high quality executives is growing along with your company.  What specific leadership development program do you have in place to grow talent in your company and produce your future leaders from current staff?

• Going Green, Saving Green: Energy, Recycling and Expense Reduction Strategies
  Environmentally friendly solutions are all the rage in business right now.  How is your company pursuing a green strategy while also enjoying the benefits of it in terms of lower operating costs?

• Hot & Cold.  Innovating Lead Management Initiatives
  Managing a lead base is an art.  Moving prospects from cold to warm, warm to hot, and hot to move-in often takes patience and skills.  What initiatives and/or incentives is your company pursuing to move leads through the pipeline and optimize their experience with you?  How are you focusing the sales team on closing sales?

• Turning Around Caregiver Turnover
  Staff to resident relationships are so critical in efforts to deliver quality care and service.  How is your company reducing turnover at the front line, caregiver level?  What program or initiative is assisting caregivers and making them feel your company is an employer of choice for them?

• A Taste of the Future:  The Next Generation Dining Menu
  Are your residents tired of the same meals?  What is your company doing to introduce innovation to resident dining options in the community? 

Questions & Considerations

Q1.  Which Best of the Best Topic category do you wish to list this nomination under? Pick one.
 
Q2.  What is the name of your program, product or service?

Q3.  Specifically describe how your submission addresses the topic you selected?

Q4.  Describe the features and benefits of your submission?

Q5.  What differentiates this program, product or service from what others may be doing.  Why should someone consider it as “new” or “different”?

Q6.  How are you measuring the impact of your submission on your organization or your customers? What results are you seeing to date?

Q7.  How do you hope to expand, grow or evolve this program, product or service in the future?

Additional Details 

Nominations are due in January each year.  All companies submitting award nominations must be ALFA members in order to move on to being assessed.  Companies may mail supplemental information to ALFA if necessary (Robert Oliveri; ALFA Best of the Best Awards; 1650 King Street; 6th Floor; Alexandria, VA 22314).  Every submission will be judged and ranked against the following criteria:

1. The uniqueness of the program, product or service
2. Making something ordinary, extraordinary
3. The difference it is making for seniors, families, staff, operations, processes, revenue generation and/or expense reduction/efficiencies.
4. The quantitative results and qualitative feedback
5. The strategic vision for the program, product or service
6. Communicating all of this information as informatively and precisely as possible

The nominators for winning submission are notified in March each year.  All others are notified by April.  Winning companies will receive the following recognition:

• A submission profile in the conference issue of Senior Living Executive Magazine and one of ALFA’s weekly ALFA Update e-newsletters.
• Receive a template press release to customize and announce the recognition
• Receive visual recognition at the annual conference
• An awards presentation with senior living and ALFA leadership and photo op
• An award and photo