Building trust
Assisted Living Accreditation
Confirming superior care and a comfortable home.
I AM:
Welcome
The essence of community
Your assisted living community thrives on the trust of your residents and their families. ACHC accreditation validates that their confidence is well-placed. Our standards provide a framework that ensures consistent, ongoing quality, confirming that your residents’ physical and mental well-being are the top priorities.
ACHC brings expertise and focus to two main objectives: Quality of care and quality of life. As your partner for accreditation, ACHC helps you apply strategic methods for improvement that directly impact and refine your business, helping you grow.
It’s simple. ACHC promises unparalleled service and resources to help you shine as a supportive care provider.
The ACHC approach: Surrounding you with education
ACHC surrounds you with accessible, responsive resources to fit your needs.
Why choose ACHC?
We are comprehensive.
Our survey incorporates your state’s regulations for assisted living. ACHC supports a culture of continuous improvement the data analysis and corrective action.
We support risk management.
ACHC standards emphasize intentional planning and consistent implementation of the services you provide.
We are collaborative.
ACHC believes in partnership, not punishment. We succeed when you succeed, so our staff is accessible, and your questions are encouraged throughout your accreditation cycle.
We understand your business.
ACHC accreditation establishes that your community represents a safe, high-quality choice. You become the benchmark that your competitors must reach.
You gain:
A customized solution
We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model for accreditation. ACHC works with you to develop a plan that meets your needs for education as well as for an accreditation survey.
A knowledge base
We become an extension of your team, adding expertise to support your staff's development. We research regulatory issues at the state and federal level and dig for answers.
A reputation for excellence
ACHC accreditation is a recognized sign of your organization's commitment to quality. It’s an achievement to be proud of and a confirmation of the value you provide to those in your care.
The ACHC process: Steps to achieving accreditation
Expect total support.
- Get Started
- Presurvey
- Survey
- Post-Survey
- Decision
- All
Connect with our Team
We can help you get started.
Information Form
Register to access the ACHC customer portal.
Application
Complete your accreditation application and submit deposit.
Verification / Scheduling
Your Account Advisor verifies application completion and advances to Scheduling.
Opening Conference
Surveyor introductions and finalized survey agenda.
Onsite Survey
Surveyor observations, interviews, and document review with ongoing Q&A.
Closing Conference
Surveyor general observations and findings.
Final Survey Report
Provided within 10 business days of the last day of survey.
Plan of Correction
Submit Plans of Correction (PoC) within 30 days of the final survey report.
ACHC Reviews PoC
- PoC accepted or revised (as needed)
- Final version submitted to the ACHC Review Committee for consideration.
Accreditation Decision
Letter sent within five business days of Review Committee decision.
Connect with our Team
We can help you get started
Information Form
Register to access to ACHC customer portal.
Application
Complete ACHC accreditation application and submit deposit.
Verification / Scheduling
Your Account Advisor confirms that your application is complete and advances it to Scheduling.
Opening Conference
Surveyor introductions finalized survey agenda.
On-site Survey
Register to access to ACHC customer portal.
Closing Conference
General observations and an overview of preliminary findings.
Final Survey Report
Provided within 10 business days of the last day of survey.
Plan of Correction
You submit Plans of Correction (PoC) within 10 days of the final survey report.
ACHC Processes Plan of Correction.
- ACHC reviews PoC
- Makes revisions (as needed).
- Final PoC submitted to the ACHC Review Committee for an accreditation decision.
Accreditation Decision
Decision letter sent within five business days of Review Committee decision.
Assisted Living Services and Distinctions
Services
ACHC Standards—the requirements you must meet to achieve ACHC Assisted Living Accreditation—are designed to be relevant to your community’s business model. ACHC will work in partnership with you to build a customized accreditation solution based on your needs. View available services and distinctions below.
An assisted living community is a senior living residence that provides services for individuals who need assistance with activities of daily living and personal care. Its purpose is to help adults live independently in a safe, homelike environment. Levels of available care vary widely , and state licensing often determines the tiers of medical care that can be provided. Care plans for residents are created, overseen, and regularly reviewed by licensed nursing personnel, in accordance with state regulations. Some level of security, personal care, and nursing staff is available around the clock, but the main focus of assisted living is to provide supervision and support of personal care, not skilled care. Assisted Living Community Accreditation confirms compliance with standards of care, safety protocols, and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
The Life Safety Code, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is widely used to develop fire safety strategies at facilities. For assisted living communities, Life Safety Code Accreditation focuses on compliance with applicable environmental and fire safety requirements. The accreditation survey confirms adherence to accepted safety practices and includes testing and maintenance of fire safety systems and devices.
The Memory Care Unit is a self-contained care unit within an assisted living community. Residents stay in the unit for most care, activities, and meals. This allows for more flexibility, permitting the residents to follow their individual schedules rather than that of staff. Memory Care Unit Accreditation verifies an assisted living community’s adherence to accepted care practices and compliance with safety protocols and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Distinctions
Distinctions offer additional recognition for specialties that go above and beyond expectations for assisted living communities. The option must be earned in conjunction with (or after being awarded) Assisted Living Accreditation by ACHC.
The Distinction in Assisted Living Outcomes (ALO) focuses on collecting and analyzing data across a range of predetermined domains to evaluate the quality of care and guide continuous quality improvement. Measurement-based care highlights strengths and weaknesses of current practices and provides evidence of goal achievement. Data are used in aggregate to establish benchmarks, which identify opportunities to improve processes, services, and operations for better overall care and outcomes. This distinction must be achieved in combination with ACHC Assisted Living Accreditation.
Ready to get started?
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
- North Carolina Assisted Living Association (NCALA)
- North Carolina Senior Living Association (NCSLA)
- Friends of Residents in Long Term Care
- North Carolina Ombudsman Association
- AARP North Carolina
- Disability Rights North Carolina
- Directors of County Department of Social Services
The study examines quality topics including:
- Workforce
- Resident outcomes
- Care coordination and transitions
- Medication management
- Person-centered care
A final report is expected in late spring 2025. We know accreditation matters and can’t wait to see the data! Contact Teresa Hoosier for more information.
ACHC Resources
To get you to the most frequently needed information, choose a link below.
Regulatory Updates
Publications
Education
Vendor Partners
Regulatory Updates
Publications
Education
Vendor Partners