"New" long-term care accreditation organization. (News Notes).

Two familiar long-term care accrediting agencies have decided to combine their efforts. CARF has merged with the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC), formerly part of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), to review a broad continuum of long-term care organizations. The new agency combines CARF's accreditation services for adult day programs, assisted living, and medical rehabilitation with CCAC's focus on aging services continua, including CCRCs. "The accreditation programs of both organizations are strengthened as a result of the merger," explained Ann E. Gillespie, AAHSA's senior vice-president for organizational excellence and former CCAC executive director. "CCAC will benefit from CARF's wide-ranging accreditation experience internationally, while CARF will benefit from CCAC's extensive experience in the aging-services field."

Brian J. Boon, PhD, president and CEO of CARE, added, "Aging-services and other human-services providers that are currently accredited by CCAC and CARF will see increased value of their accreditations as a result of the merger. The unified organization's combined research, marketing, and education resources will enable the development of new accreditation services tailored to specific needs."

For more information on the merger, call [phone].