New services undergoing certification audits can only receive three-year certification, but those which have been operating for some time can be certified for up to five years if they meet quality improvement standards.
No centres registered on the Ministry of Health website have a five-year certification.
Previously Taieri Court, which is run by Presbyterian Support Otago and caters for 33 residents, had a three-year certification, but it was upgraded during its recent audit by Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand.
Announcing the certification, HDANZ director Lisa Cochrane said it was a well-deserved outcome for all the centre's hard work and "going the extra miles" for residents and families.
Audits cover reviews of policies and procedures, on-site observation of how the service works and meetings with residents, families and management.
Presbyterian Support Otago chief executive Gillian Bremner said the certification was a significant achievement and further endorsement of the "great job" being done by nurse-manager Mary McKay and her team.
The only other South Island facility offering aged residential care with a four-year registration is Southern Cross Hospital in Invercargill.
