Accreditation

CARF-CCAC: Setting the Standard for Quality

AccreditationThe Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC), which was acquired by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in 2003, is the nation's only accrediting body for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and other types of continuums of care that we refer to as aging services networks.

Before CCAC was founded, consumers, financial rating agencies and other stakeholders had no clear way of determining whether a retirement community was financially stable, providing quality care or worthy of their investment. In 1985, a group of visionaries created CCAC to help ensure that the nation's retirement communities fulfill their promise of quality, lifetime care to older adults.

Today, CARF-CCAC certifies continuing care retirement communities and aging services networks that are part of home, community or hospital-based systems; sites operated by corporate organizations; and other types of providers.

Why CARF-CCAC Accreditation is Important

A mark of quality: CARF-CCAC accreditation is widely regarded as the mark of quality for aging services. To be accredited, organizations must demonstrate ongoing innovation and continued conformance to standards. This means they must be committed to continuous quality improvement in their governance and administrative structures, fiscal practices and the care and services they provide to older adults.

A sign of integrity: Participating in the accreditation process means an organization has a genuine commitment to continuous self-evaluation and performance improvement guided by an external, independent, third-party accreditation organization. Everyone within the organization – staff, residents and the board of directors – is involved in the accreditation process.

A standard for comparison: Accreditation is a concrete way to evaluate the many retirement living options available today. Many financial and planning advisers recommend that consumers look for the CCAC seal when choosing a provider.