ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), which advocates for excellence in senior living, will establish a separate, independent credentialing organization to operate and govern industry certification and certificate programs.
ALFA’s Board of Directors agreed at its recent board meeting to create a new entity with its own governance structure to better provide the public with a basis for evaluating a senior living staff qualification while encouraging professionals to enhance or acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform at the highest levels within the senior living industry.
“We are committed to creating the highest standards of excellence in senior living through long-term investments in credentialing, creating even greater value for our residents and the families they serve,” said ALFA Board Chairman Brenda Bacon, who also serves as president and CEO of Brandywine Senior Living.
The credentialing program is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and identify senior living professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of senior living. This multi-year process involves experts from the senior living and academic fields who will collaborate on the development of a certification and credentialing program covering all areas of expertise necessary for the successful operation of a senior living community.
“The commitment demonstrated by individuals to achieve this high standard industry credential makes a strong statement about their drive for professional growth and their increasing abilities to provide high-quality services to the senior living industry,” said ALFA Board of Directors Vice Chairman and Legend Senior Living CEO Tim Buchanan, who will serve on the new credentialing organization’s Board of Directors.
Governance of the credentialing program will occur autonomously from the ALFA Board of Directors and the credentialing program Board of Directors will be charged with setting the body’s strategic direction, establishing policy and making policy-level certification decisions.
