Senior living operators today face a critical question: Is every outside caregiver properly vetted and qualified to work hands-on with residents?
With a steady stream of third-party care providers coming and going everyday, paper sign-in books and verbal assurances are no longer enough to ensure resident safety. Communities must shift the focus from “assumed trust” to “verified trust.”
In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of verifying third-party care credentials in senior living and how credential verification helps create the peace of mind that residents and families expect and deserve.
The Hidden Complexity of Third-Party Care
Third-party care is much more prevalent and complex than many operators realize.
Although it may seem like only a few external providers come and go each month, the data tells a different story. A recent analysis of Accushield partner communities throughout the nation creates a much clearer picture of service provider activity.
The data uncovered an average of:
- 80 agencies per community/month
- 247 caregivers per community/month
- 315 rejected documents YTD (May 2025)
These caregivers are not employees of your organization. They’re brought in by families and other staffing agencies—each operating with their own standards and protocols. This results in a revolving door of external parties providing hands-on care and support to residents, often without centralized oversight.
Without a structured system in place to verify critical credentials—such as background checks, TB test results, professional license, and insurance—you’re relying on trust alone. However, even one unvetted or unqualified caregiver can pose a serious threat to resident safety, regulatory compliance, and community reputation. So why take the risk?
Why Credential Verification Matters
Verifying third-party caregiver credentials demonstrates a deep commitment to resident safety and accountability. Through this structured process, you can ensure that everyone in the building has been thoroughly vetted and are qualified to work hands-on with residents.
As Alex Salabarria, Owner of Oaks Senior Living explains:
“I believe that every third-party healthcare provider that serves a senior resident should meet a standard level of credentialing requirements.”
A comprehensive credential verification system, like Accushield, helps ensure that every third-party caregiver and service provider meets your community requirements and are compliant with industry standards. It’s a simple step with a far-reaching impact—enhancing safety, building trust, and ensuring peace of mind for residents and families.
Building Trust & Strengthening Reputation
Credential verification delivers real, measurable benefits that ripple across every part of your community. By demonstrating a clear commitment to resident safety and care, you establish trust with families while also strengthening your community reputation.
Over time, these layers of protection and professionalism elevate your competitive standing and position your community as a leader in safety, quality, and trust.
As Krishnan Kalyanasundaram, Vice President of The Arbor Company explains:
“Residents and families choose Arbor for peace of mind, and Accushield plays a crucial role in delivering that peace. Our community sales directors, and our conversations with potential residents and their families, all revolve around ensuring the highest levels of safety and security.”
Families recognize and appreciate well-managed senior living communities—and they talk about them. Positive experiences lead to positive Google reviews, trusted referrals, and increased word-of-mouth. It’s a continuous cycle that creates lasting impressions, drives occupancy, and sets your community apart.
Getting Buy-in from Third-Party Providers
In this section, we’ll explore best practices to help you communicate the purpose behind credential verification to third-party providers, highlight the professional value it offers, and how to set and maintain clear expectations.
Start with Transparency and Purpose
Clear communication is the foundation of any successful process. Start by clearly communicating why credential verification matters—not just for compliance, but for the safety and dignity of the residents. Framing the process as a proactive measure to protect vulnerable populations helps providers understand they’re part of a broader mission to become trusted allies in resident safety and respect.
Highlight the Professional Advantage
There are also professional advantages that are important to emphasize. When providers become verified, they’re not just gaining access to your community—they’re also building credibility. As David Acuff, RVP of Operations for QSL Management Senior Living explains:
“This is a great selling point for the providers that come into our communities because they can say they’ve gone through the necessary steps to become Accushield Verified and prioritize our residents’ safety. It also lends a lot of credibility to our communities that we’ve properly vetted the people who come in to provide care to our residents.”
Once verified, providers can often serve multiple Accushield communities without re-submitting documents. This not only saves time but also positions them as preferred partners in a competitive care environment.
Set Expectations Early and Reinforce Often
When expectations are communicated early, providers are more likely to stay engaged, compliant, and aligned with your community’s values. Make credentialing requirements clear from the start by including them in service agreements, onboarding packets, and visible community signage. It is also important to share policy updates and use everyday interactions to reinforce your community’s standards.
Raising the Bar for Safety and Accountability
Accushield partners with service providers and third-party agencies to ensure that all care credentials are legitimate, active, and compliant with industry standards.Verify is a credentialing software—integrated with the Accushield digital sign-in kiosk—that screens and validates third-party caregivers, ensuring peace of mind and compliance.
We can verify the following credentials:
- Proof of Liability and Workers Compensation Insurance
- Criminal Background Check
- Employment Verification
- Proof of TB Test
- Vendor Company Agreement and Registration Form
Verifying third-party caregiver credentials isn’t just best practice—it’s a clear commitment to protecting residents and building trust.
Credential Verification as an Advantage
By implementing a structured, credential verification process for third-party caregivers, you can give residents and their families the peace of mind they deserve while positioning yourself as a leader in the industry.
Want to Learn More?
Discover how you can simplify compliance, strengthen partnerships, and boost resident safety with Verify.
