Every Village receives top award from CARF International
Kristian Partington

When you ask Jennifer Hartwick to describe the feelings that overtook her when she received the results from last fall’s accreditation surveys at Schlegel Villages, pride is her top choice of words.

As director of business process development, Jennifer co-ordinated the accreditation process in the 10 villages seeking the highest of designations, a three-year accreditation.

All were successful.

Barrie’s Coleman Care Centre, Jennifer explains, had already received accreditation prior to joining the organization. The other 10, however, worked hard to prepare for visiting surveyors from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), who were “blown away” by what they saw, she says.

Surveyors made specific mention of “exemplary” conformance in two areas: the Program for Active Living and the organization’s Appreciative Inquiry process underway to create a social model of living in the villages under a philosophy where care is truly resident centred.

“Each home team worked tirelessly to demonstrate and celebrate what it is they do at the villages each and every day,” Jennifer says.

“It was an opportunity for them to showcase what they do on a 24-7 day week — they work long and hard every day so this was an opportunity for them to show someone from the outside all of the good things they do for the residents.”

To put into perspective what the accreditation process looks like, Jennifer explains there are around 1,100 standards that surveyors evaluate, and a home is marked as non-conformant, partial conformant, conformant, or exemplary on each standard.

According to Jennifer, the exemplary standard Schlegel Villages is setting in the field is something that should be shared with the entire aging services community.

For her, that’s a great source of pride.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact 800-294-0051, ext. 24, or e-mail kristian(at)axiomnews.ca.