Excellence in Care: AFA’s Accreditation for Dementia Care Settings
Choosing a safe, trusted care facility for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can be confusing. To help make that process a little easier for families, AFA created the Excellence in Care (EIC) Dementia Care Program of Distinction.
EIC establishes a nationwide standard for excellence in dementia care. Memory care settings that apply to become EIC sites are evaluated based on dementia-care best practices, including person-centered care and policy protocols that promote the health, safety, and well-being of individuals living with dementia. Unlike with other certifications, all prospective EIC sites are evaluated through on-site, in-person tours, and subsequently each time they apply for renewal. Live, on-site evaluations are essential to ensure that each AFA EIC Dementia Care Program of Distinction continues to meet AFA’s rigorous quality standards, because dementia-care best practices continually evolve.
Care settings across the country have achieved the status of Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Excellence in Care Dementia Care Program of Distinction, demonstrating their commitment to quality care and meaningful living for their community members.
Find an EIC Care Setting
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America proudly awards its “Excellence in Care Dementia Care Program of Distinction” to dementia care settings that meet its national care standards after undergoing an extensive evaluation by trained staff from AFA’s Professional Training and Education Division.
View current EIC care settings
Apply to become an EIC site
Assisted living residences, skilled nursing facilities, continuing care residential communities, adult day programs, group homes, and senior centers that provide care to individuals living with dementia are eligible to participate in EIC. EIC designations are awarded for a two-year period, at which time the site must apply for renewal. Designated EIC sites receive the EIC star (pictured above) for use on their website and informational materials.
Potential benefits of becoming an EIC Site include:
- Standing out from the competition in your area
- Receive first referrals from AFA Helpline inquiries
- Receive full utilization of AFA resources, including specialized training opportunities for your staff
- Assistance with implementation of recommendations
- Automatically become an AFA member organization
Testimonials
“The EIC distinction makes our caregivers more comfortable leaving loved ones here. It makes the employees have pride in their work. It makes me feel really good that our clients are having quality of life”
– Vicki Kerr, Caring Days, Tuscaloosa, AL, EIC site since 2014
“We are proud to be the only day center in the State of Louisiana to receive this distinction–and four times since 2009. In a society in which elder care, especially care for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia, is often lacking, I feel it is important for care settings to have the accountability and structure to assure that affected individuals are receiving the utmost in quality care and that their needs are met through a person-centered philosophy. Having such a standard raises the bar for everyone else to provide excellence in care and for those who don’t, questions should be asked, ‘Why not?’ We have had nothing but positive experiences through the EIC process.”
– Dana Territo, Charlie’s Place, Baton Rouge, LA, site since 2009
“Families are quite proud of our certification, and word of mouth throughout the community has had a positive impact on our community. Because of the higher standard that AFA requires, many families, and other health care professionals, recognize that we provide a higher standard of care to those we serve.”
– Mary Jane Eicke – Juniper Village Wellspring Memory Care at Williamstown – site since 2010
“It has been a great experience working with AFA’s team – everyone has been very accommodating and professional. The EIC audit process has also been really helpful in prompting us to review all of our program practices, to make any necessary changes, and to adopt new policies that reinforce our commitment to delivering the best standard of dementia care in all that we do.”
– Aimee Ruiz – Alzheimer’s Family Services Center – site since 2014
