HCN News & Notes

LifePath’s Adult Family Care Program Earns Rigorous NCQA Accreditation

GREENFIELD — LifePath’s Adult Family Care (AFC) program, which offers compassionate, individualized care for people with daily care needs in nurturing home environments, recently received accreditation through the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in the area of case management for long-term services and supports (LTSS).

The accreditation, which extends for three years, is a rigorous standard requiring strong quality and documentation processes to be in place. LifePath’s AFC program received high marks from NCQA.

The AFC program matches caregivers willing to provide care and housing with participants in need. Participants are individuals age 16 and older who cannot live alone safely because of medical, physical, cognitive, or behavioral-health challenges. LifePath’s AFC program serves more than 135 individuals in Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Worcester counties.

“We take great pride in the success and longevity of our participants’ placements and the excellent care they receive from devoted caregivers,” said Barbara Bodzin, executive director of LifePath. “NCQA accreditation recognizes the high standards maintained by staff.”

NCQA’s standards provide a framework for organizations to deliver effective, person-centered care that meets people’s needs and aligns with state requirements. The program evaluates organizations in areas such as conducting comprehensive assessments, managing care transitions, planning and managing critical incidents, and measurement and quality improvement. Earning NCQA accreditation of case management for LTSS can help organizations become more efficient and provide excellent integrative and person-centered care.

Currently, LifePath is seeking people willing to open their homes to provide care to others in the community who otherwise would end up in a nursing home or in an institutional setting. Caregivers receive tax-exempt compensation as well as professional support from a nurse and care manager. People who are interested in learning more should call LifePath at (413) 773-5555 or e-mail info@lifepathma.org. Additional information can also be found at lifepathma.org.