Extendicare Columbia Forest

Extendicare Ontario Homes Accredited With Exemplary Standing

MARKHAM, ON—(Marketwired - August 06, 2015) - Extendicare is being recognized for having all 34 Ontario long term care homes and two Ontario retirement living centres Accredited with Exemplary Standing. This distinction is the highest level of accreditation; it is awarded to organizations that go beyond the requirements of Accreditation Canada and demonstrate excellence in quality improvement.

"Family members and community partners alike state that they feel the care at the homes is excellent... Overall, the Extendicare Ontario homes offer warm, welcoming, and clean, home-like environments. The homes are well maintained and the staff members take great pride in the homes at which they work," stated the Accreditation Canada report.

In order to receive exemplary standing, an organization must have met all required organization practice tests for compliance and 95 per cent or more of the high priority criteria in each group of standards. Extendicare's 34 Ontario long term care homes and two retirement living centres met these requirements in the high priority criteria and achieved an overall score of 97.7 per cent.

"Our passion for quality improvement is driven by our desire to always do what's best for the residents, their families, our staff and the community. What they say and believe is what is most important to us," said Chris McKey, Vice President of Eastern Operations.

"Exemplary Standing has now been achieved by Extendicare's Ontario long-term care homes as well as by our ParaMed Home Health Care division," said Tim Lukenda, President and CEO of Extendicare. "We are proud of the efforts our entire team demonstrate on a daily basis to help people live better."

Accreditation is part of a national external peer review process, designed to promote excellence in quality and safety of patient care. Surveyors of Accreditation Canada, an independent not-for-profit organization which accredits over 1,100 health care and social service organizations in Canada and around the world, surveyed Extendicare's Ontario homes and met with staff, residents and family members to ask about the quality of care provided and received. In 2014, only 16 per cent of all organizations surveyed across Canada were accredited with Exemplary Standing.

"Extendicare has effectively implemented quality improvement into its everyday practices at its long-term care and retirement homes across Ontario," said Wendy Nicklin, President and CEO of Accreditation Canada. "By achieving Accredited with Exemplary Standing, the staff and leadership have demonstrated their strong commitment to the quality and safety of the health care services they provide to their residents and community."

ABOUT EXTENDICARE

Extendicare is a leading provider of care and services for seniors in Canada. Through our network of 116 operated senior care centres (62 owned/54 managed) as well as Canada’s largest private sector home health care operations, we are committed to delivering care throughout the health care continuum to meet the needs of a growing seniors’ population in Canada. Our qualified and highly trained workforce of 22,400 individuals is dedicated to helping people live better through a commitment to quality service and a passion for what we do.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Natasha Radlovic

Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Tel: 905-470-5566