Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES) Adult Family Care (AFC) Program has been awarded a three-year Accreditation status, the highest award available.
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awards the status of Accredited-3 years to organizations, such as OCES, that demonstrate strong performance of the functions outlined in the standards for Accreditation of Case Management for Long-Term Services and Supports (CM-LTSS). Earning NCQA’s Accreditation of CM-LTSS demonstrates that an organization is dedicated to coordinating the delivery of care in a person-centered and integrated manner to help individuals function optimally in their preferred setting.
OCES, the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, elected to work with the NCQA to obtain accreditation primarily because their CM-LTSS Accreditation Program closely aligns with the goals of AFC and the values of OCES.
In March of 2018, OCES began the process of seeking accreditation for its AFC Program. This process involved every member of the AFC team – including the Program Director, Care Managers, Registered Nurses, Supervisors, Program Assistant and Program Specialist – as well as many other OCES staff who provided their expertise.
The yearlong process encompassed rewriting policies; constructing worksheets that shape the monthly interactions with consumers; creating new workflows that enable the program to run more efficiently; and establishing new program goals which will help the AFC program serve more diverse populations and expand deeper into communities currently underserved. The process also included the creation of a gap analysis and timeline in order to meet the MassHealth Accreditation deadline of June 30th, 2019. OCES submitted documentation that all standards were met; NCQA conducted off-site review as well as an onsite evaluation.
“NCQA accreditation is highly esteemed and we are very proud that our Adult Family Care Program has received this award,” said Nicole Long, CEO of OCES. “I would like to recognize and thank our AFC team for their diligence in navigating this detailed and in-depth process over the past year. This significant accomplishment is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the AFC team and our entire organization that came together to see this process to its successful completion.”
OCES’ AFC program serves 151 caregivers and consumers in 39 towns throughout Plymouth, Bristol and Norfolk counties, who have a variety of physical, mental and emotional health needs.
About OCES
Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.
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