NCAL’s Thayer Award Goes to Oregon Quality Expert Reilly

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) named Nicolette Reilly the 2026 recipient of its Jan Thayer Pioneer Award, citing her more than 25 years of experience in the senior living profession.

Reilly has led quality initiatives and provided guidance to assisted living providers on regulatory compliance, operational excellence, workforce development, and public policy, NCAL said. She is currently the senior vice president of quality for the Oregon Health Care Association, an affiliate of the American Health Care Association/NCAL (AHCA/NCAL). 

“Nicolette consistently demonstrates her commitment to quality, counseling members, and improving the lives of our residents,” said NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea. “She has showcased extraordinary leadership skills throughout her career and has made significant strides in the world of long-term care. Nicolette exemplifies the best this profession has to offer and fully deserves this honor.” 

For 14 years, Reilly served as vice president of operations and then president at Avamere, overseeing the operations of 18 assisted living communities, including services for memory care and independent living. Prior to that she worked as the regional director of operations for LifeStyles Senior Housing Managers, LLC, helping to oversee three large campus settings that included assisted living, independent living, enhanced care, Parkinson's care, and memory care.

NCAL said Reilly is nationally recognized as a leader in assisted living and quality improvement as a previous chair of the NCAL Board of Directors (2010-2011) and through her decades of service with the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program.

Comments? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.