34 finalists from 13 counties to be honoured at Ireland’s premier celebration of nursing home care
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) is delighted to announce the NHI Care Awards 2025, in association with Homecare Medical, will take place on Thursday, 6th November 2025, at the historic Round Room, Mansion House, Dublin.
The awards recognise and celebrate the exceptional care, dedication and compassion demonstrated by nursing home staff across Ireland who support over 27,000 residents in more than 440 nursing homes nationwide.
This year, 34 finalists from 13 counties have been shortlisted across 12 award categories, representing the breadth and depth of excellence throughout Ireland’s nursing home care sector. The prestigious national event honours the individuals and teams who go above and beyond in their daily work, enriching the lives of older people and ensuring residents receive person-centred care that enables them to live with dignity, purpose and connection.
Broadcaster Mary Kennedy will host the ceremony, which will see 12 winners announced on the night. The full list of finalists can be viewed on www.nhicareawards.ie.
Celebrating Ireland’s Care Heroes
The awards recognise excellence across multiple categories:
Five Dedicated Awards (three finalists in each, one winner seleted):
- Director of Nursing
- Quality Enhancement Award
- Administrator of the Year – Olivia Slater Award
- Resident Achievement Award
- Team of the Year
Six General Awards (18 finalists shortlisted, six winners selected)
One Overall Award (selected from all entries across every category)
An independent judging panel, led by Professor Amanda Phelan from the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health at DCU, alongside Paula O’Reilly, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation, and Andy Heffernan, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, selected the finalists based on compassion, innovation, dedication and impact on residents’ quality of life.
Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said:
“The annual NHI Care Awards represent a vital opportunity to shine a light on the extraordinary people working across Ireland’s nursing home care sector. Every day, thousands of dedicated professionals – nurses, healthcare assistants, activity coordinators, chefs and support staff – demonstrate remarkable compassion, skill and commitment to enhancing the lives of older people in their care.
“These awards are our opportunity as a sector to say thank you. To recognise that the care being provided in nursing homes across the country is not just a job, but a vocation driven by genuine care for our older people.
“With 34 finalists from 13 counties, this year’s awards showcase the nationwide excellence that defines Irish nursing home care. From Directors of Nursing leading clinical innovation to volunteers bringing joy to residents’ daily lives, from teams transforming dementia care to individuals going the extra mile every single day – these finalists represent the very best of our sector.
“As we look forward to the 2025 NHI Care Awards, we celebrate not just individual achievement, but the collective excellence of a sector that is making Ireland one of the best places to age.”
A Night of Recognition and Celebration
The NHI Care Awards highlight the diversity of nursing home care, recognising excellence in nursing, care assistance, activities coordination, culinary services, end-of-life care, dementia care and innovative practice.
Tickets for the awards ceremony on 6th November 2025 are available now at www.nhicareawards.ie
