A seniors care residence in Murrayville served as an unofficial guinea pig and in doing so earned B.C.鈥檚 highest level of recognition for both service and care for its residents.

Sunridge Garden Seniors Community, a Bria operated independent seniors living residence, was the first site in the province to earn the BC Seniors Living Association鈥檚 (BCSLA) upgraded seal of approval designation, confirmed Janice Miller, Bria鈥檚 marketing manager.

鈥淲hy does it matter? The seal of approval ensures that seniors living who choose to live in seniors communities receive the highest level of service and care 鈥� a particularly poignant issue these days,鈥� she said.

The association has introduced a new audit program that revitalizes the standards program for accreditation, explained BCSLA CEO Lee Coonfer.

鈥淭his is an exciting time for BCSLA as we employ a revitalized standards review program that requires our member communities to operate at exceedingly high levels while setting a foundation for their continuous improvement going forward,鈥� Coonfer said.

鈥淭his innovative assessment tool has been over a year in development and could not come at a better time in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,鈥� he added.

The operating environment for seniors鈥� communities has changed in the 10 years since the seal of approval process was introduced, and more than a year ago BCSLA embarked on what Coonfer calls an 鈥渁mbitious鈥� revitalization to ensure that this assessment tool continues to be effective and reflective of today鈥檚 realities.

鈥淲e were thrilled to be part of the pilot project for the new seal of approval process and to have Sunridge Gardens be the first community to achieve the redeveloped seal of approval,鈥� said Bria director Tanya Snow.

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鈥淲e want to be part of an association that wants to promote and advocate for self-regulation in our industry. This gives us the chance to showcase what independent senior living is and be an autonomous industry.鈥�

Shannon Saunders, general manager for Sunridge, noted achieving the new seal of approval was a 鈥渞igorous鈥� process.

鈥淭his is a much more in-depth process; it was intense. But it was also more relevant to the kind of service we want to offer to independent living residents like ours,鈥� Saunders said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e constantly looking to improve our residents鈥� experience and address their changing needs,鈥� interjected Snow. 鈥淭he revitalized seal of approval pushes us to offer the highest level of senior living.鈥�

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