We chose CARF because its aging services network standards cover our housing, home care, and assisted living services, as well as our long-term care stream. We believe it is important to demonstrate accountability and excellence for the organization as a whole, not just in one area. CARF’s standards were designed for application in organizations like ours that provide a continuum of services to seniors. We deliberately sought out and then embraced the CARF standards because they are developed through a consultative, peer-review process that grounds them in provider realities. Most important, the standards center on the perspective of persons served, which aligns with the focus of our care and services. The surveyors could have focused solely on organizational documents and policies, but instead demonstrated what is unique to the CARF philosophy: the persons served mirror what is being done organizationally, and their voices need to be heard.
John PrayPresidentShepherd’s Care FoundationEdmonton, Alberta