The Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) welcomed Heritage River Retirement Residence as a new member of the group recently.
Based on independent inspection and evaluation, the association commended Heritage River Retirement Residence’s achievement and commitment to uphold the requirements of the ORCA accreditation program.
The evaluation pertains to operational policies, procedures, and staff education essential to the maintenance of a safe, comfortable living environment for residents. Not all retirement residences are ORCA approved, only those that meet and maintain its standards.
Established in 1977, ORCA is a voluntary non-profit association that sets professional operating standards, inspects and accredits retirement residences in Ontario. The accreditation criteria were established and continue to evolve with information from experts in the sector. The standards focus on operating requirements for a safe home. Trained surveyors conduct inspections on-site and survey results are graded by an independent third party company.
According to ORCA president Millie Christie, “For the past 20 years the association has been advocating for the establishment of province-wide standards for quality of service within the industry. We established our accreditation program in response to consumer, member, and government requests for a system that would differentiate safe operations within the industry. In order to join and maintain membership in ORCA, each property must undergo a comprehensive evaluation.
“Through our toll-free hotline, 1-800-361-7254, we encourage consumers to call us with questions and comments involving retirement residence sin their community,” said ORCA chief executive officer Gord White. “We also distribute consumer information that helps people select the residence best suited to their needs and interests.”
ORCA represents nearly 300 owners and operators of retirement residences dedicated to providing the highest quality care and services to almost 22,000 Ontario seniors.
Heritage River Retirement Residence is an active ORCA member since June and will be re-evaluated again in two years.
