News & Publications

Long Term Care Photo Contest

The 2020 Submission Period is Now Closed.

FHCA member skilled nursing centers and assisted living facilities are invited to submit photographs capturing the daily life, activities and loving care between residents, families and staff. Entries should represent some aspect of daily life in in your care center. For example, consider showing residents interacting with staff or participating in activities, therapy or special events. You can showcase any aspect of long term care, from medical professionals to recreational entertainment to support services like housekeeping and dietary.

Contest Criteria

The contest is open to amateur photographers *who live, work or volunteer in an FHCA member skilled nursing center or assisted living facility or are employed by an FHCA member.* Photography should not be the primary form of employment and/or revenue for the individual submitting photographs.

Download the Photo Contest Poster to display in your center!

Submissions

Choose from several themes when submitting your photo – activities and events, holidays, health-related services or portraits. Photos should depict some aspect of daily life in your care center. For example, you may want to show residents interacting with staff or participating in activities, therapy or special events. You can showcase any aspect of long term care, from medical professionals to recreational entertainment to support services like housekeeping and dietary.

A limit of 3 photo submissions are allowed per individual photographer, with no more than 2 photographers allowed per center.

Please indicate below if you (as the photographer) have participated AND received an award within the past three years - 2017, 2018 or 2019 Contest. Individual photographers who have received an award within the past three years (1st, 2nd or 3rd) are not eligible for their entry to win the in the 2020 contest. Facilities that have previously placed are still eligible to win with entries submitted by non-winning photographers. Honorable Mentions with recognition only (no cash prize) can be awarded based on the judges' discretion.

Be sure to also include the Photo Release Form, which must be signed by every person in each photo, and the Photo Submission Form, which is where you describe the content of your photo. *If you experience difficulty submitting your entry, please contact Kristen Knapp at kknapp@fhca.org.

2020 Submission Period Now Closed
Download the Photo Release Form as a Word Document
Download the Photo Release Form as a PDF

*In addition to FHCA's Long Term Care Photo Release Form, FHCA Regulatory Counsel Karen Goldsmith wants to remind members to review CMS S&C Letter 16-33-NH: Protecting Resident Privacy and Prohibiting Mental Abuse Related to Photographs and Audio/Video Recordings by Nursing Home Staff. Residents' rights to privacy of their appearance and property are protected, along with their right to be portrayed with dignity. Photos must have clear consent of the resident or his/her legal representative.

Selections

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the finalist voting process for the Long Term Care Photo Contest has been postponed. FHCA will notify finalists and update members once finalists have been selected and the public Facebook judging begins. A selection committee narrows down up to 20 finalists representing a mix of each category, after which the public will have an opportunity to vote for the top three overall winners via the FHCA Facebook page. Everyone entering a photo will be notified by mid-April, with finalists given instructions on how to participate/promote the Facebook voting contest. All winning photos, along with the narratives, will be displayed during the FHCA Annual Conference & Trade Show, as well as on FHCA’s website and through additional promotions by FHCA.

Prizes

The center’s photo earning the most Facebook votes will be selected as the Overall Winner and receive a cash prize of $500.
Second Place Overall Winner will receive $300.
Third Place Overall Winner will receive $200.
Each winning center will have the opportunity to use the cash prizes toward a center-wide pizza party, ice cream social or other event for residents and staff.
Each photographer for Overall, Second and Third Place will receive a $50 VISA gift card.