A Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) program that specializes in supporting family caregivers recently earned the highest accreditation rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

SCES received a three-year Case Management Accreditation from NCQA for the Adult Family Care (AFC) program in May. The three-year accreditation is the highest rating for that category, given by NCQA to programs “that demonstrate strong performance of the functions outlined in the standards for Case Management accreditation.”

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. AFC Director Jeanne Leyden described the accreditation as an important validation of the program’s track record of helping friends and family provide the best care, at home.

“We pursued the NCQA accreditation because we know their standards are high, and we were confident that we would measure up,” said Leyden. “It is really great to get this affirmation from such a prestigious organization.”

NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.

NCQA Accreditation standards are developed with input from researchers in the field, the Case Management Expert Panel, and standing committees, employers, purchasers and operators of Case Management programs, state and federal regulators, and other experts.

In describing the accreditation, NCQA states that the standards are purposely set high to encourage organizations to continuously enhance their quality.

“Case Management Accreditation moves us closer to measuring quality across population health management initiatives,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, President, NCQA. “Not only does it add value to existing quality improvement efforts; it also demonstrates an organization’s commitment to the highest degree of improving the quality of their patients’ care.”

The AFC program helps older adults and people with disabilities receive assistance through live-in caregivers. Each participant lives with a caregiver, who is responsible for meeting that person’s daily needs. In return the caregiver receives a tax-free stipend, two weeks paid time off annually, and ongoing support and training through registered nurses and social workers.

SCES is a private non-profit organization, dedicated to helping older adults and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. SCES Executive Director Paul Hollings described AFC as an important part of that mission, which provides an alternative to nursing home placements by supporting family caregivers.

“The Adult Family Care team delivers crucial assistance every day, providing caring and conscientious support for family caregivers across the Greater Boston Area,” said Hollings. “We are thrilled to see their hard work and high standards recognized with this accreditation.”

 Adult Family Care is a regional program of SCES that provides training and compensation for family caregivers across the Greater Boston, North Shore, and Merrimack Valley areas. For more information, visit adultfamilycare.org or call 617-628-2601.

NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.