United in excellence

2025 was truly a banner year for United.

In late 2024, we welcomed three well-established communities (Lake Bonavista Village, The Lodge at Valley Ridge, and Trinity Lodge) into the United family which meant the year that followed marked an exciting period of growth, bringing fresh perspectives, new relationships, and a strengthened sense of purpose — while reinforcing what has always mattered most to us: people, connection, and community.

Through this growth, we maintained our commitment to upholding the high standards that residents, families, and team members have to come expect from United. Growth is not just about size — it’s about strengthening our culture, deepening relationships, and committing to continuous learning and innovation. It was also an important time to validate this commitment through an extensive third party accreditation process. We wanted to check in on ourselves to answer a key question: are we truly walking the walk?

High standards rooted in relationship centered care

“We are pleased to share that United’s communities have been awarded a three-year accreditation certificate from CARF Canada,” says Kera Redlack, VP Wellness & Experience. “As the highest level of accreditation available through this internationally recognized organization, this recognition affirms what matters most to us: quality, accountability, and a culture of care and connection that shows up every day. It means we don’t just meet CARF’s standards, we live them consistently and at a high level.”

At United, our approach is grounded in relationship-centered care, rather than a one-size-fits-all model, which recognizes that strong, respectful relationships between residents, families, and team members are essential to well-being and the overall experience for those living in our communities.

Collaboration and innovation are at the heart of our approach. By working together, we create communities where residents thrive and team members feel supported, engaged, and proud of the work they do. People are at the heart of the United experience – along with the amenities, culinary offerings, wellness programs, and world-class programming that sets us apart from the standard approach to senior living.

As United continues to grow, maintaining consistency, quality, and accountability has become an important part of our offering. Accreditation plays a critical role ensuring current and future residents have confidence that we hold ourselves to the highest standards across all United communities.

“We are incredibly proud of achieving this milestone, and we couldn’t have done it without the dedication of our team,” says Kera.  “We also know that accreditation is not the finish line.  It’s an ongoing commitment to excellence that challenges us to keep learning, improving, and holding ourselves accountable to upholding the highest standards as we continue to grow.”

What is CARF?

CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is an independent, internationally recognized accrediting body. CARF evaluates organizations against rigorous standards related to quality, safety, leadership, governance, and relationship-focused care.

What does a 3-Year Accreditation Mean?

“Achieving a 3-Year Accreditation on a first survey is a significant accomplishment,” says Penny Gagnon, Chief Advisor, CARF Canada. “It reflects United’s commitment to person centered care and quality services. This achievement demonstrates the organization’s ability to deliver services aligned with international standards, while fostering learning, transparency, and a strong culture of accountability and continuous improvement.”

“Engaging in the CARF accreditation process reflects a senior living community’s commitment to excellence, learning, and continuous growth,” says Craig Hanenburg, Surveyor with CARF International. “As a CARF surveyor, I visited United Active Living as part of its external peer review, leading a team of four colleagues who observed services and operations and evaluated each program against internationally recognized best practices.”

Craig goes on to explain the in-depth survey process: “Both the preparation process and the on-site visit support United Active Living’s service teams in affirming person-centered care, strengthening quality initiatives, and fostering a shared understanding of excellence across the organization. The process encourages collaboration, innovation, and intentional decision making that keeps the focus on the people served.”

He shares the significance of CARF accreditation as an important indicator for those researching older adult communities: “CARF accreditation fosters public trust by demonstrating that United Active Living is actively engaged in meeting expectations, while continually strengthening its culture, its workforce, and the care it provides to residents and families.”

This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to:

• Providing safe, high-quality services and supports
• Putting residents at the centre of every decision
• Continuously improving how we care for and support those who live and work within our United communities
• Operating with transparency, accountability, and strong governance

The accreditation process involved a comprehensive review of policies, programs, and day-to-day operations. It also included meaningful conversations between a team of accreditation surveyors with residents, families, team members, and leadership. These voices, experiences, and feedback were essential in achieving this outcome.

Together, we are shaping the future of senior living — one built on trust, collaboration, and care that celebrates the wonderful individuals who have become an integral part of the United family. Stop by a United community to see accreditation in action.

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