Local Adult Foster-care Program Earns National Accreditation

SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Senior Services Inc. (GSSSI) adult foster-care program has received national accreditation through the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in the area of long-term services and supports. Accreditation is granted to agencies that meet certain evidence-based standards in areas such as conducting comprehensive assessments, managing care transitions, performing person-centered assessments, and planning and managing critical incidents.

According to Jill Keough, GSSSI executive director, NCQA standards provide a framework for organizations to deliver efficient,  effective, person-centered care that meets people’s needs, helps keep people in their preferred setting, and aligns with state requirements. GSSSI received NCQA’s highest accreditation status and was awarded a three-year certification.

“We are honored and proud to achieve this recognition,” Keough said. “This achievement has been the result of an intensive, 18-month process. It demonstrates our commitment, and that of our adult foster-care staff, to high standards for quality service.”

Adult foster care is a MassHealth program that offers a family setting and personal care in the caregiver’s home. Adult foster-care staff are an experienced team of nurses and case managers who offer support and training to caregivers and monitor the member’s well-being on a regular basis. Caregivers may provide care to a family member or an unrelated person living in their home. It enables people with chronic medical conditions who are unable to safely live alone to receive the support they need in a home environment while still maintaining their independence and quality of life in the community.