TUCSON, Ariz./EWORLDWIRE/July 18, 2008 --- AARP, America's leading advocacy organization for older adults, has accepted a seat on CARF International's Advisory Council (IAC). CARF International accredits providers of health and human services, including aging services.The IAC comprises organizational and individual members who represent a spectrum of the accreditors stakeholders, including persons served, providers, professionals in the field, and purchasers. It serves as a forum to provide guidance on CARF standards development and insight on issues affecting fields in which CARF provides accreditation services.
AARP Senior Vice President for Livable Communities Elinor Ginzler said, "CARF's independent, third-party accreditation aligns with AARP's mission to enhance the quality of life for all people as they age."
Brian J. Boon, Ph.D., president/CEO of CARF International, said, "AARP's positive voice on the IAC will tremendously benefit persons served in the aging services field. As the field grows at an exponential rate, AARP's influence is vital in assuring older adults they have opportunities to enjoy the highest degree of choice, dignity and independence."
AARP's relationship with CARF International dates from 2003, when AARP announced its support of CARF's acquisition of the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC), the nation's only accreditor of continuing care retirement communities. CARF was already accrediting assisted living residences and adult day services.
Most recently, AARP participated in an international advisory panel with other industry and consumer representatives to review CARF's standards for continuing care retirement communities.
Ginzler will represent AARP on the IAC. Her involvement with accreditation spans more than a decade when she was a consumer leader for CCAC.
"I look forward to working with CARF to promote quality services and engage our older population," Ginzler said.
With the addition of AARP, the IAC encompasses 36 organizational and 5 individual members. A list of IAC members is at 'http://www.carf.org/members'.
About AARP
AARP is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine, with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and a Web site, AARP.org ('http://www.aarp.org'). AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About CARF International
Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF International is an independent, non-profit accreditor of human service providers in the areas of aging services, behavioral health, child and youth services, DMEPOS, employment and community services, medical rehabilitation, and opioid treatment programs. The CARF family of organizations currently accredits more than 5,000 providers at more than 18,000 locations in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, and South America. More than 6.5 million persons of all ages are served annually by CARF-accredited providers.
For more information about the accreditation process, visit the CARF Web site at 'http://www.carf.org', the CARF Canada portal at 'http://www.carfcanada.ca', and the CARF/CCAC portal at 'http://www.carf.org/aging'.
CARF International offices are located at 4891 East Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712, toll free (888) 281-6531. CARF Canada is located at 10665 Jasper Avenue, Suite 1400A, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S9, Canada, toll free (877) 434-5444. CARF/CCAC is located at 1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 209, Washington, DC 20036, toll free (866) 888-1122.
(Top)