Aged care homes and workers encouraged to enter Awards

11 July 2016

Aged care homes and workers encouraged to enter Awards

The country’s best aged residential care homes and the individuals working in them are being encouraged to enter the new-look EBOS Healthcare Excellence in Care Awards 2016.

“These are the aged residential care sector’s most prestigious awards and this year we have expanded them to include six care home categories and two new individual awards,” says Simon Wallace, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Aged Care Association (NZACA) which manages the annual Awards programme.

“Aged care homes would be nothing without the thousands of individuals who work in them – from management to caregivers, chefs, gardeners, nurses, admin workers and volunteers. That’s why we have introduced two new individual awards. “One is for the stand-out individual in a care home – the person who always goes the extra mile to improve the quality of life for the residents. The second individual award is for legendary service – this person will have been working in the sector for more than ten years and over their career will have continuously made a positive difference in the lives of residents and staff.”

Mr Wallace says an award has also been introduced that recognises the outstanding work of the smaller operators that dominate the sector, including welfare, religious and not-for-profit aged care homes.

There are five other care home awards. These recognise excellence across a range of specific areas that are vital to the running of a successful home. They include staff training, connecting with the community, innovative delivery of care, excellence in food, and exceptional design, construction or changes to a care home to create a positive environment for residents and staff.

The Awards are open to NZACA’s 600 members, which account for more than 90% of New Zealand’s residential aged care sector.

“Our members look after almost 40,000 of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. It is an extremely challenging but rewarding sector and these awards recognise and celebrate the excellent care they deliver to New Zealand’s elderly.”

Mr Wallace says there are many benefits from entering, including prizes for all the winners thanks to the generous support of the Awards sponsors. The EBOS Healthcare Overall Excellence In Aged Care Award winner will receive a trip for two to a conference of their choice, including flights, accommodation and registration, valued at up to $5,000.

Entries close on 11 August. The finalists will be announced in September, and the winners presented with their awards and prizes at a gala dinner on Wednesday 5 October, part of NZACA’s 2016 Conference at the SKYCITY Convention Centre in Auckland.

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