Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Jenny Bradley
As you or your loved ones consider the next chapter of life in a retirement community, one of the most critical factors to consider is the quality of care and services provided. Just as you would seek out a five-star hotel for your vacation, you should look for the highest standard in senior living: CARF accreditation.
CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Their accreditation is the pinnacle of achievement for retirement communities, signifying a commitment to excellence that goes above and beyond industry norms.
Why CARF Accreditation Matters:
1. Third-Party Validation: CARF accreditation isn’t a self-awarded pat on the back. It’s a rigorous, unbiased assessment conducted by experts in senior care. This third-party review ensures that the community’s claims of quality are substantiated by an objective, knowledgeable source.
2. Exceeding Industry Standards: To earn CARF accreditation, a community must not only meet but exceed recognized industry standards.
3. Comprehensive Evaluation: CARF looks at every aspect of the community – from resident care and safety to financial stability and governance.
4. Continuous Improvement: Accreditation isn’t a one-time achievement. Communities must undergo reaccreditation every three years, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing improvement and adaptation to evolving best practices.
5. Transparency and Accountability: CARF-accredited communities voluntarily open their doors to a team of CARF surveyors. This transparency speaks volumes about their confidence in their services and their accountability to residents and families.
CARF-accredited communities offer numerous benefits. When you choose a CARF-accredited retirement community, you’re not just selecting a place to live; you’re opting for a lifestyle that prioritizes your well-being, dignity and quality of life.
Here’s what that means for you:
• Person-Centered Care: CARF standards emphasize individualized care plans that respect your unique needs, preferences and goals. For example, at The Carlisle Naples, which has earned four consecutive three-year accreditations, the CARF survey team praised the active retirement community’s ‘truly person-centered approach to care that forms the foundation of everything that happens in the community’ and noted that residents stated, ‘Everyone knows my name’ and ‘They know what I like.’
• Safety and Security: From emergency preparedness to medication management, CARF-accredited communities adhere to stringent safety protocols, giving you and your loved one peace of mind.
• Robust Programming: From fitness classes to arts and culture, CARF-accredited communities offer diverse, enriching activities catering to residents’ physical, mental and social well-being. The Carlisle Naples’ Zest initiative was recognized for its ‘variety of engaging activities to meet every interest while staying open to new ideas and opportunities that enhance offerings available to residents’ and that the program promotes freedom and independence.
• Financial Stability: CARF evaluates the financial health of communities, reducing the risk of unexpected closures or changes in ownership that could disrupt your life.
• Engaged and Qualified Staff: These communities invest in their staff, ensuring they are well-trained, compassionate and committed to resident satisfaction. The Carlisle Naples’ senior leadership and interdisciplinary teams were acknowledged in the most recent CARF accreditation, with surveyors finding they ‘have formed a passionate and committed care team that continually demonstrates a philosophy of person-centered services.’
• Community Engagement: These communities foster strong connections with the broader community, offering opportunities for volunteering, lifelong learning and intergenerational activities.
• Innovative Practices: CARF pushes communities to embrace new technologies and methodologies that enhance resident care, from telemedicine to state-of-the-art therapy equipment. At The Carlisle, onsite health care providers, known as the MyCare Clinic and EmpowerMe Wellness, offer physical, occupational and speech therapies. These preventative health care options support better health outcomes and provide peace of mind.
Choosing a retirement community is a significant decision. By selecting a CARF-accredited community, you choose one that has proven its dedication to the highest standards of care, service and resident satisfaction.
“Our accreditation is a testament to our commitment to upholding CARF’s rigorous standards of excellence,” said The Carlisle’s Executive Director Bill Diamond. “It’s a promise of quality, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a testament to our unwavering focus on what matters most: you.”
Located at 6945 Carlisle Court in Naples, The Carlisle offers independent and assisted living lifestyles featuring spacious one-and two-bedroom residences, dedicated housekeeping and flat linen services, basic cable TV, all utilities except telephone, and elevated dining with daily, chef-prepared specials. The community is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an important distinction that provides residents with the assurance that the highest standards of quality care, services and safeguards are maintained. For more information about the community, please call 239-221-0017 or visit www.TheCarlisleNaples.com.
The Carlisle
6945 Carlisle Court, Naples, FL 34109
239-221-0017 . www.TheCarlisleNaples.com
