The OnShift Applause Awards Spotlight Schedulers, Human Resources Professionals, Building Leaders and Front-Line Caregivers Who Are Raising the Standard of Care in Their Communities
October 15, 2026 (DALLAS) — OnShift, a ShiftKey brand offering next-generation workforce management software made exclusively for long-term, post-acute and senior care, today announced the winners of its Applause Awards. The awards began as Scheduler of the Year in 2012 and started including administrators, human resources professionals and direct caregivers in 2022. The OnShift Applause Awards spotlight senior care professionals nominated by their peers for raising the standard of care in the communities they serve.
Providing this recognition is critical in today’s senior care industry. Leaders and direct care professionals continue to face challenges due to increasing demand and a widening workforce shortage, and lack of recognition is one of the reasons they leave. In ShiftKey + OnShift’s 2025 “Senior Care Survey Report: Workforce 360,” 37% of direct care professionals cited it as a reason for leaving, and according to a 2026 ShiftKey 2026 burnout survey, 22% of direct care professionals reported that they never feel valued and recognized.
The OnShift Applause Awards give senior care communities an opportunity to recognize and publicize the creativity, innovation, leadership, determination and compassion the professionals in their buildings demonstrate daily. Winners were chosen from nearly 500 nominations detailing results they produced in their communities, such as supporting workforces and residents, strengthening retention, and going above and beyond in providing care.
The 2026 OnShift Applause Award winners
- The Impact Award recognizes outstanding human resources professionals at the community, regional or corporate level.
- Dr. Martha A. Klima, Plymouth Place
- Shelly Lee, Nicholasville Nursing & Rehabilitation
- Mark Loy, Buckeye Care & Rehabilitation
- The Innovator Award recognizes administrators or executive directors at a long-term post-acute care or senior living organization.
- Kelsey Barney, St. Leonard, CHI Living Communities
- Kristen Andrews Birdsong, Kensington Health & Rehabilitation Center
- Tessa Parks, Renton Health & Rehabilitation
- The Scheduler of the Year Award recognizes schedulers who use OnShift to ensure excellent care for residents and support their team members’ needs.
- Dekenya Alexander, Quality Center for Rehabilitation & Healing
- Monique Holland, Good Samaritan Society - Comforcare
- LaToiya Remy, Legacy Pointe at UCF
- The Best in Care Award recognizes direct care professionals and staff in long-term post-acute care, senior living or other non-acute care settings. The winner of the Best in Care Award was selected by public vote in September, 2026.
- Kaylynn Crawford, Bellaire at Stone Port and The Legacy at North Augusta
“Senior care is facing challenges that can seem insurmountable at times,” said ShiftKey CEO Mike Vitek. “OnShift’s technology is built specifically to support healthcare professionals in overcoming these challenges, but their compassion, dedication and willingness to innovate is what keeps their communities sustainable. The OnShift Applause Awards are a chance to recognize their extraordinary work. Congratulations to this year’s winners!”
To learn more about the OnShift Applause Awards and the 2026 winners, please visit: https://www3.onshift.com/applause-awards-2026
About OnShift
OnShift, a ShiftKey brand, delivers next-generation workforce management with modern, world-class scheduling software. Its innovative approach to workforce solutions fosters a culture where people want to work. Post-acute care facilities rely on OnShift's software and services to reduce turnover rates, decrease costs and improve the quality of care. For more information, visit: www.OnShift.com.
