Why CARF Accreditation Matters

What is CARF Accreditation and Why Does it Matter at RiverWoods Exeter

When choosing a continuing care retirement community, you’re not just selecting a place to live, you’re choosing a partner in your long-term well-being, security, and quality of life. That’s why accreditation matters. And at RiverWoods Exeter, it’s something we’ve taken seriously for decades.

A Commitment That Dates Back to 1999

RiverWoods Exeter was one of the youngest communities to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), the nation’s only accrediting body for these types of communities. RiverWoods Exeter first earned accreditation in 1999, just five years after its opening. Even more importantly, we’ve maintained that accreditation ever since, demonstrating a sustained commitment to excellence, not just a one-time achievement.

What Is CARF Accreditation?

CARF International is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966. Its mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through rigorous standards and a continuous improvement process.

For CCRCs, CARF accreditation is not required, which makes the pursuit of it all the more meaningful. In fact, fewer than 10% of CCRCs nationwide achieve this level of review. Organizations that do are voluntarily holding themselves to a higher standard.

What It Takes to Earn Accreditation

Achieving CARF accreditation is no small feat. Communities must meet or exceed more than 1,200 standards covering areas such as:

  • Governance and leadership
  • Financial stability
  • Health and wellness services
  • Resident rights and engagement
  • Safety and risk management

The process also includes a comprehensive on-site survey conducted by a team of peer reviewers. These experts evaluate everything from day-to-day operations to long-term strategic planning, ensuring the organization is truly designed to benefit the people it serves.

The Gold Standard: A Five-Year Term

RiverWoods Exeter has earned a Five-Year Term of Accreditation, the highest level awarded by CARF. This designation means:

  • We demonstrate substantial conformance to CARF’s rigorous standards
  • Our programs and services are designed with residents’ well-being at the center
  • We show ongoing quality improvement over time
  • Our operations are expected to remain strong and sustainable into the future

Even during this five-year period, CARF maintains oversight and may conduct additional reviews to ensure continued compliance, which means accountability never stops.

How This Compares to Typical Oversight

All retirement communities, including CCRCs, are subject to certain state and federal regulations. These often include:

  • Health and safety inspections for licensed care areas (such as assisted living or skilled nursing)
  • Life safety and fire code compliance reviews
  • Financial disclosure requirements for CCRCs, depending on the state
  • Periodic surveys tied to specific services, rather than the organization as a whole

While these regulations are essential, they are typically baseline requirements focused on compliance rather than continuous improvement. They typically evaluate specific components (like healthcare services) rather than the full resident experience.

The CARF review goes significantly further. Instead of checking minimum standards, surveyors look holistically at the entire organization’s scope of services. In order to achieve accreditation, organizations must commit to a proactive, ongoing commitment to improvement, not just passing an inspection at a single point in time.

In short, regulatory oversight asks, “Are you meeting the rules?” CARF accreditation asks, “How well are you serving your residents and how can you do even better?”

Why This Matters to You

Accreditation isn’t just a badge, it’s a promise. At RiverWoods Exeter, it means:

  • Transparency: Our practices are independently reviewed and validated
  • Accountability: We’re committed to continuous improvement
  • Quality Assurance: You can trust that our services meet nationally recognized standards
  • Peace of Mind: You or your loved one are part of a community that prioritizes dignity, safety, and well-being

A Legacy of Excellence

Maintaining accreditation since 1999 reflects a culture that values doing things the right way every day. That’s what CARF accreditation is really about and that’s what you can expect at RiverWoods Exeter.

Want to learn more about CARF accreditation?
Visit the CARF International website to explore their standards and process in more detail, or reach out to our team to learn how accreditation shapes everyday life in our community.

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