Armed Forces Retirement Home Receives Prestigious Accreditation

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Armed Forces Retirement Home Receives Prestigious Accreditation

For the first time in its history, the Armed Forces Retirement Home has applied for and received accreditation from the prestigious Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)-Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC).

The accreditation, which will extend through August 2013, results from the findings of an on-site survey of the AFRH facilities conducted Aug. 18-22, 2008. It was awarded in five services and programs at AFRH, an independent federal agency which serves more than 1,100 military retirees and veterans.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcome of services through a consultative accreditation process. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, it is the leading accrediting body of human services. CARF-CCAC accreditation represents the highest level of endorsement achievable.

"This was a tremendous accomplishment for AFRH" stated Timothy Cox the retirement home's chief operating officer. "Our dedicated staff put many hours into the accreditation process, and they are to be congratulated."

The CARF-CCAC survey report labeled these five AFRH areas exemplary:

· There are a wide variety of on-and off-campus activities. The on-campus activity facilities include a movie theater, bowling alley, and a 50,000 volume library.

· The performance and accountability annual reports to Congress are extensive, clear, timely documents that give an in-depth overview of the organization and its forward-looking and creative pictures of the strategic direction of AFRH.

· AFRH'S chief operating officer has minimized long-term financial threats by developing and seeking implementation of an innovative strategic initiative to lease 77 acres of land to provide a long-term revenue stream.

· The strategic plan for AFRH is a complete document that is well developed with input from stakeholders who thoroughly research and outline their respective areas with solid recommendations for consideration in the final strategic plan document.

· AFRH's total excess margin ratio, operating ratio, and days cash on hand ratio exceed the 75^th percentile for single-site continuing care retirement community in CARF-CCAC's database.

AFRH currently holds an accreditation through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). JCAHO evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.
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Eligibility

Veterans are eligible to become AFRH residents if their active duty service in the military was at least 50 percent enlisted, warrant officer or limited duty officer and they are:

• Veterans with 20 or more years of active duty service and are at least 60 years old, or
• Veterans unable to earn a livelihood due to a service-connected disability, or
• Veterans unable to earn a livelihood due to injuries, disease, or disability, and who served in
  a war theater or received hostile fire pay, or
• Female veterans who served prior to 1948.

Applicants must be free of drug, alcohol, and psychiatric problems, and never have been convicted of a felony.
Married couples are welcome, but both must be eligible in their own right.
At the time of admission applicants must be able to live independently. As an example of this, they must be able to take care of their own personal needs, attend a central dining facility for meals and keep all medical appointments. If increased health care is needed after being admitted, assisted living and long term care are available at both campuses.
http://www.afrh.gov/afrh/newres/elig/elig.htm