2026 Staff Awards
Honoring Excellence in Home Care, Home Health, Hospice & Personal Care
Each year, NMAHHC recognizes outstanding individuals who exemplify the highest standards of compassion, professionalism, leadership, and service in New Mexico’s home- and community-based care continuum. These awards celebrate the caregivers, clinicians, administrators, and community partners who make exceptional contributions to the patients, families, and communities they serve.
As part of our ongoing commitment to find new ways to support the agencies and professionals who deliver compassionate, high-quality care to New Mexicans in the comfort of their homes, we are excited to present our new & improved Staff Awards nomination categories! Our updated awards categories are aimed at recognizing all of the phenomenal caregivers, clinicians, administrators, and community partners who make exceptional contributions to the patients, families, and communities they serve.
Take a look at our new Staff Awards categories below!
Staff Awards
Healing at Home Award
Home Care Nurse of the Year
Recognizes a licensed nurse who demonstrates outstanding clinical skill, compassion, and commitment to helping patients remain safe and independent at home.
Heart of Hospice Award
Hospice Nurse of the Year
Recognizes a hospice nurse who exemplifies expert symptom management, dignity-centered care, and extraordinary support for patients and families at end of life.
Restoring Independence Award
Therapist of the Year
Recognizes a physical, occupational, or speech therapist/ therapist assistant for outstanding clinical practice in the care in the home setting (home health or hospice).
Community Connections Award
Social Worker of the Year
Recognizes a social worker who personifies excellence in the professional practice of social work in the care in the home setting (home health or hospice).
Guiding Light Award
Chaplain/Counselor of the Year
Recognizes a chaplain, spiritual care provider, counselor, or bereavement professional who provides compassionate emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and care teams. (hospice)
The Compass Award
Administrator of the Year
Recognizes an administrative leader who strengthens agency operations, culture, quality, and mission through exceptional leadership. (All)
Hands of Comfort Award
Hospice Aide of the Year
Recognizes a hospice aide who delivers compassionate, person-centered care that supports dignity, comfort, and emotional wellbeing at end of life. (hospice)
Heart of the Home Award
Home Health Aide | Caregiver of the Year
Recognizes a home health aide or caregiver who provides exceptional personal care, reliability, and support that empowers clients to live independently with exceptional person-centered support. (home health and personal care services)
Judging Criteria
Nominations for awards above will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Excellence in Role Competency: Demonstrates outstanding skill, professionalism, and mastery of the responsibilities expected in their role.
- Impact on Patients, Families, or the Community: Shows clear, positive, and meaningful impact through care, support, advocacy, or service.
- Going Above and Beyond: Demonstrates exceptional dedication, initiative, compassion, leadership, or service beyond the basic requirements of their role.
Volunteer/Volunteer Staff Award
Spirit of Service Award
Volunteer of the Year
Recognizes an individual whose volunteer service exemplifies generosity, compassion, and commitment to serving others. This award is open to:
- Agency staff who volunteer their time in the community and/or in support of the association’s mission, and/or
- Hospice volunteers who provide direct support to hospice patients, families, or bereavement programs.
This award honors individuals who give their time freely to strengthen patients, families, communities, and the home- and community-based care system.
Judging Criteria
Nominations for Volunteer of the Year award above will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Impact & Achievement: Demonstrable, positive change in the community or organization. Quantifiable results (e.g., number of people helped, projects completed). Meeting significant community or agency needs.
- Dedication & Consistency: Sustained, long-term commitment (often minimum hours or months). Exceptional reliability and dependability. Going "above and beyond" regular expectations.
- Leadership & Initiative: Showing innovation, creativity, or new solutions. Taking initiative, leading others, or empowering beneficiaries. Inspiring peers and the community.
Specialty Staff Awards
Rising Star Award
Young Professional of the Year (Under 40)
Recognizes an emerging leader under 40 whose innovation, initiative, and contributions strengthen the future of home-based care.
Champion for Care at Home Award
Advocacy Ambassador of the Year
This award honors individuals who actively engage in policy efforts, represent the industry with credibility and professionalism, and amplify the Association’s advocacy priorities at the local, state, or federal level.
Judging Criteria
Nominations for awards above will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Professional Achievement: Proven track record, recent accomplishments, career progression, innovative work, significant contributions to their company or field.
- Industry Impact: Thought leadership, published work, speaking engagements, advancing their profession, supporting industry growth.
- Going Above and Beyond: Demonstrates exceptional dedication, initiative, compassion, leadership, or service beyond the basic requirements of their role.
Legislator of the Year
Recognizes a policymaker who champions legislation and public policy that strengthens care in the home statewide.
Legislator of the Year is determined by the NMAHHC Board of Directors.
Nominations fee is $25 for all nominations, except aide/caregiver nominations. Only
award winners (plus one guest) are invited to the award ceremony. Agencies/honorees
can send additional guests to the ceremony for a nominal fee ($25/person). All nominees receive a letter/certificate to recognize nomination.