Gold Seal Award

The Governor's Gold Seal Award recognizes Florida nursing centers that demonstrate excellence in long term care over a sustained period while promoting the stability of the profession and facilitating the physical, social, and emotional well-being of nursing center residents. Established in 2002, the program was developed and is implemented by the Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care (Panel), which is comprised of persons appointed by the Governor’s Office, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Department of Health, Department of Elder Affairs, Florida Health Care Association, Florida Life Care Residents Association, LeadingAge Florida, and the State Long Term Care Ombudsman. Click here for a list of current Panel members.

Application Process

The Panel grants the Gold Seal Award to Florida nursing centers twice a year. Applications are reviewed in two periods: MARCH 15 (Quality of Care Score available by February 15, obtained from the preceding quarter ending Dec. 31) and SEPTEMBER 15 (Quality of Care Score available by August 15, obtained from the preceding quarter ending June 30).

• Click here to access the Gold Seal application
• Click here to review Gold Seal Quality of Care Scores (list of qualifying centers for the current Gold Seal review cycle).

Gold Seal Criteria

Centers must meet a quality of care scoring and ranking that places them in the top 15 percent in their region or top 10 percent in the state and be a Five Star Overall facility. Gold Seal recipients must also be in operation a minimum of 30 months prior to the date of application, and the center must:

• Have no Class I or II deficiencies within 30 months preceding application
• Provide evidence of financial soundness and stability
• Participate in a consumer satisfaction process involving residents, family members and guardians
• Involve families and members of the community in the facility on a regular basis
• Have a stable workforce
• Have an outstanding record with the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council within the 30 months preceding application
• Provide targeted in-service training to meet training needs identified