Mount Airy assisted living facility recognized as high-quality provider by state department
RidgeCrest, a retirement community located in Mount Airy, N.C., has received the only four star certification in Surry County and is one of only nine facilities to receive the designation in a five-county area which includes Wilkes, Yadkin, Stokes, Forsyth and Surry counties.
To receive a four star certification, assisted living facilities must receive consecutive scores of 100 or greater on their annual inspections. The system was introduced in 2009, and RidgeCrest received consecutive scores of 102.5 on their surveys in 2009 and 2010 which qualified the Mount Airy community for four-star status.
The North Carolina Star Rated Certificate program is a quality improvement program applied to assisted living facilities throughout the state. It is designed to aid consumers in making informed decisions regarding care options for themselves or for a loved one. During the survey, state inspectors spend two or three days in a facility observing operations to ensure quality, consistency and optimum resident care. The visits are unannounced so communities cannot mask deficiencies.
Inspectors grade a facility using a merit/demerit system where key categories such as medication management and resident care are evaluated. If an error is found, the facility is given a demerit which is subtracted from their starting score of 100. If a merit is found, it is added to the score. RidgeCrest received merits for its quality improvement plan and for automatic sprinklers which minimize danger to residents should a fire occur.
RidgeCrest Executive Director Linda Vernon says the community’s services will continue to be high quality and resident-focused.
“We are thrilled about the designation,” Vernon said. “Our focus remains on delivering daily excellence while maintaining our consistently high survey scores and striving to exceed our residents’ expectations.”
Survey results and star certifications are public information. Consumers can find provider certification status as well as additional information about the four star system at the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation’s web site which is located at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us.