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CARF Connection Blog

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The CARF Connection blog, previously distributed in the form of a newsletter, provides timely tips, resources, and updates about CARF accreditation, business practices, and related matters. Learn about current trends in the fields that CARF accredits, improving services, and the latest CARF news.

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8/19/2020

Accreditation supports a balanced response to COVID-19 in senior living

Where regulatory oversight is varied by state and inconsistent, the CARF standards can position assisted living providers to prepare for and respond to a pandemic.

11/13/2019

10 tips: How unpaid caregivers can beat burnout

With a growing aging population, many adult children and other loved ones step up to provide care, but family caregivers take on a significant amount of work in addition to regular jobs and family responsibilities, which can lead to extreme burnout.

7/25/2019

Addressing social determinants with higher standards

Social determinants of health (SDH) are the conditions in which people live, work, and age and include factors like housing stability, employment status, geographic location, education, and other socioeconomic circumstances. SDH, often determined by distribution of wealth and resources, has proven responsible for inequities in healthcare and has become its biggest cost-driver.

3/14/2019

Elevating social work

By CARF International

The CARF Connection blog often discusses integrative services and ways to approach a person in a holistic way. In other words, we focus on many of the things that social workers have been advocating since the era of Jane Addams in the 1890s. It is no wonder that CARF’s workforce is teeming with social work professionals.

This March, CARF joins the National Association of Social Workers in celebrating social workers.

2/25/2019

Your health literacy: 5 ways to be your own best advocate

By CARF International

With healthcare information more widely available than ever, consumers are boosting their health literacy, taking the initiative to educate themselves more thoroughly on how to take care of themselves. Here are some suggestions for taking control of your own health literacy.

2/13/2019

3 examples of outcomes management systems in action

By CARF International

CARF shares best practices related to outcomes management through its standards. To complement that effort, here are some recent field examples of outcomes systems’ improving performance.

1/3/2019

World investing in and collaborating on healthcare quality

By CARF International

As providers, regulators, and payers in health and human services around the world seek value and efficiency, many are adopting new standards, integrating new methods, reviewing existing regulations, and exploring innovative practices from other countries.

12/20/2018

2018: CARF’s Year in Review

By CARF International

As 2018 comes to a close, we thank the many stakeholders who spent another year advancing the goals and values close to CARF’s mission. In a brief look back, here are some of the most consequential stories from 2018.

10/23/2018

Opioid treatment services now covered by Medicare

By CARF International

Although private and state insurance sometimes cover opioid addiction treatment, Medicare historically has not. However, on October 3, Congress passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which expanded Medicare coverage to include opioid treatment programs.

5/24/2018

The Value of Professional Development

By CARF International

Take advantage of the professional development resource offered to CARF-accredited organizations, and encourage your emerging leaders to become CARF surveyors. 

5/17/2018

4 ways accreditation supports the human services ecosystem

By CARF International

A recent report discusses the future of community-based human services. The first four initiatives are directly supported by CARF standards, meaning, if you’re a CBO applying the standards for accreditation, you’re likely strengthening the overall ecosystem. Here are the standards and other CARF resources that can offer guidance to your organization.

4/10/2018

Seen and heard at the CARF surveyor conference

By CARF International

Surveyors representing health and human service organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada attended the 2018 CARF Surveyor Continuing Education Conference on March 24 and 25 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in beautiful Tucson, Arizona.

2/28/2018

Seen and Heard at the Transforming Outcomes Institute

CARF’s winter Transforming Outcomes Institute concluded on February 24. It hosted more than 100 participants in Tucson, AZ. Here’s a visual breakdown of the training.

9/1/2017

Message from CARF CEO regarding Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

We at CARF are deeply concerned about the many lives affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, natural disasters of significant scope and scale.

8/23/2017

Where CARF surveyors come from

We spoke with three former CARF surveyors who are now CARF staff members. They shared some interesting context on themselves and why they first got into surveying

11/30/2016

The effects of ageism on quality of life for seniors

Schlegel Villages manages multiple accredited long-term-care programs and retirement housing in Ontario. Earlier this year, in response to feedback from its quality of life survey, Schlegel Villages conducted the #ElderWisdom Green Bench project. This campaign addressed ageism by inviting community members to engage in conversation with elders to gain knowledge and receive advice. This article discusses ageism and shares feedback from Resident, David Kent.

9/16/2016

Quality Practice Notice on Suicide Prevention

Responsible, quality-based practitioners in the health and human services industry should educate and train themselves to act in a responsible and timely manner when presented with a person at risk for suicide. We know through research that applying evidence-based practice and delivering comprehensive and integrated prevention programs can reduce the rate of suicide. In regard to Suicide Prevention Month, please access CARF’s Quality Practice Notice on Suicide Prevention for first step resources to saving a life.

6/21/2016

Technology continues to ingrain itself into health and human service fields

Telecommunications and data management technology has unavoidably made its way into healthcare industries because it can increase consumer access to services and providers’ ability to provide them. Many providers are successfully incorporating technological solutions, which is why CARF has made an effort to highlight practices related to this topic in the Promising Practices newsletter series. This blog post features some articles that highlight successful uses of technology to improve business practices or service delivery.

5/31/2016

Increasing formation of healthcare networks calls attention to quality guidelines

A major story so far in 2016 has been the change in service delivery models toward larger systems and networks through affiliations, mergers, and various other types of integrations. Providers are forming relationships across multiple sectors to expand their reach and provide services more efficiently to a broader population. The changing environment poses challenges for providers as they find themselves operating within a new service infrastructure or environment. This trend is of particular interest to CARF because it poses quality questions for providers across a spectrum of industries.

5/3/2016

Horticultural therapy: It makes a growing difference

The Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott, Arizona, a residential assisted living community specializing solely in dementia care, shares how it created a horticultural therapy program to address a range of resident outcome goals.

4/8/2016

The ins and outs of choosing and displaying the CARF seal of accreditation

After your programs or services have earned CARF accreditation, you will want to market and advertise your achievement to your community and stakeholders. CARF provides resources that can help you promote your accreditation, including guidelines for citing your accreditation, example news release and letter text, and several CARF seal options. This blog post explains how to properly use and display the CARF seals of accreditation in your online and printed materials.

2/4/2016

Aging services programming: celebrating 20 years of progress

As part of CARF’s 50th year anniversary, we will be sharing snapshots of the industries in which we offer accreditation services. This is part 1 of a series: Aging Services. 

8/6/2013

Living longer, living better: Improving service quality and supports for persons with ID/DD and dementia

With advances in medicine and assistive technology, persons with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) are living more productive and longer lives. This extended life expectancy also means that these individuals experience an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) as they age. This article highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) and CARF International.

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