The Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC) is an independent accrediting body sponsored by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).

AAHSA represents not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing high-quality health care, housing and services to the nation's older adult population. Its membership consists of over 5,000 not-for-profit nursing homes, CCRC's, senior housing facilities, assisted living and community services organizations. AAHSA organizations serve more than one million older persons of all income levels, creeds and races across the country.

Accreditation not only provides assurance of quality and integrity, but it offers the public a standard for comparison in evaluating retirement communities.

CCAC communities are evaluated not only for quality of services provided, but also for financial strength and stability. This review of finances offers a sense of security to residents and clients in challenging economic times.

CCAC accreditation is widely regarded as a mark of quality for retirement communities. An accredited retirement community must meet or exceed CCAC's standards of excellence.

Nationwide, there are 2100 continuing care retirement communities and only 341 have been accredited by CCAC. In Ohio, there are 25 CCAC accredited communities of which 8 are OPRS communities.

Accreditation is a rigorous voluntary process involving extensive self-evaluation by the retirement community's staff, residents and board of directors, and an onsite review by trained CCAC evaluators.

For more specific information on accreditation and a list of accredited communities visit the CCAC Web site: http://www.ccaconline.org/.