Sharon Grambow
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
What is Masterpiece Living?
Masterpiece Living is a nationally recognized program and research-based way of life that focuses on four key dimensions:Â physical, social, intellectual and spiritual.
Why did Sun Health Senior Living become involved in Masterpiece Living?
Although we believed we were making a difference in the lives of our residents, we didn’t have the data or research to prove it. We heard about Masterpiece Living and the MacArthur Foundation study, which showed that 70 percent of how we age is based on the decisions we make and not genetics; and how – through intentional actions in the four dimensions – people can dramatically influence their quality of life. We signed up in 2010, launching programs across all three Sun Health Senior Living campuses.
How does Masterpiece Living empower Sun Health Senior Living residents?
The main way the Masterpiece Living empowers older adults is through knowledge. Health risk assessments and lifestyle inventories give residents a baseline in the four dimensions, and residents are requested to redo their assessments annually. The aggregate scores are shared with the communities, and we can measure the impact on our residents’ health and wellness. We also are benchmarked against national data, while residents can measure their personal improvement.
What are some outcomes you’ve seen?
One of the outcomes is a greater personal accountability for successful aging. Residents are more engaged in life enrichment and encourage their neighbors to get involved.
The bottom line?
Masterpiece Living is more than participating in events that others plan or eating a healthy, chef-prepared meal. It is a philosophical viewpoint on how to live our lives – whether we have a slow decline or live our lives to the fullest.
