CARF vs. JCAHO?

Sleeping June · Jul 9, 2009

Hello everyone,

I did a search here and at Google for information on CARF (Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) but haven't found what I'm looking for: is there a significant difference between CARF and JCAHO accreditation for a mental health and drug rehab facility? I'm trying to find a place in Florida to talk to my mom about.

She is 54 and has a very long history of often untreated severe depression (with suicidal attempts) along with symptoms of either bipolar or BPD (only the severe depression and suicidal attempts have been officially documented by a doc; she won't stay with an outpatient psychiatrist/psychologist long enough to find out what all is going on). She also has a history of drug abuse (cocaine and marijuana, and recently she has been receiving prescriptions for oxycodone for back pain). The thing is, this past weekend she was arrested and placed in jail for trafficking of prescription drugs (3 pills of the oxycodone found in her car during a routine traffic stop, and no prescription on her). She was released today, but while she was in jail, her husband of 15 years passed away and she was placed on suicide watch in the medical/infirmery unit. She is an absolute mess now, and I'm both afraid to go down there (I'm in Colorado) and afraid to stay here.

She has 2 friends that are with her around the clock right now, but I just do not feel like that is enough (her friends think she will be "fine" with them and seeing a psych "eventually" on an outpatient basis). The whole point of this is, I'm in the process of researching possible places to talk to my mom about getting help at (with the potential of an inpatient or residential option), but I want to make sure any suggestions I give her are properly accredited and have some form of regulation/oversight.

From what I understand, I can't make her go anywhere, but I would like to have as much knowledge as possible when speaking with her (I'm not even sure how to do that when her friends tell her she is just fine).

Thanks ahead of time for information; it is very much appreciated.

*Edit*

I also wanted to say thank you for everything you do in your profession. Healthcare would be a lot scarier indeed without your dedication to the patients you work with.