3 Kendal Affiliates Achieve Re-Accreditation

Aug. 4, 2017—In May and June, CARF surveyors visited Kendal-Crosslands Communities in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; Kendal at Hanover in Hanover, New Hampshire; and Kendal at Oberlin in Oberlin, Ohio. Each of the communities received re-accreditation for a five-year term.

Each prepared for the visit over a year in advance, reviewing and revising written plans and policies and other documents required by the more than 1,500 CARF standards. Each also used work groups of board, residents, and staff to look at the standards in each area and discuss how their organizations were addressing those standards. There is not one way to conform with standards; a big part of the visit is describing to the visiting team how the organization meets the standards.

The teams that visited were composed of peers who work in similar organizations. Administrative surveyors focused on leadership, governance, strategic planning, risk management, human resources, and performance measurement and improvement. Program surveyors looked at standards relating to health and safety, accessibility, input from persons served and other stakeholders, rights of persons served, the care process, person-centered care and services, and dementia specialty standards. Finance surveyors worked off-site, and typically look at information technology standards in addition to the finance section.

All the teams commented on the level of engagement of residents at Kendal communities, noting that it was different from their experiences in other locations.

In late fall 2017, other Kendal affiliates will begin preparing for reaccreditation visits in late 2018 to early 2019:  Kendal at Lexington, Kendal on Hudson, Kendal at Ithaca, and Collington. The Admiral at the Lake is not yet accredited and will begin preparation for its first accreditation visit, with timing to be determined.

Posted by Larry Elveru