Scientific Research Guides Seniors Into Life Balance with New Program Offered by The Buckingham

Feb. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Everyone wants to live as long as possible—and have the fullest life possible along the way.  Most people would equate physical fitness and health as the only perquisite to achieving those goals. However, a 10-year study by the MacArthur Foundation found that successful aging really requires attention along four levels of wellness:  spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical. That study formed the basis for a new culture of senior care called Masterpiece Living®, a computer-driven program now hitting full stride for senior residents at The Buckingham.

“We saw Masterpiece Living as a vital new element in fulfilling our core mission in serving our senior residents,” said Cathy Lightfoot, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Buckingham. “It provides us with a scientifically sound tool to focus on the four areas that will help our residents achieve successful aging in the fullest sense—maximum longevity with maximum personal fulfillment. That’s all any of us could ask for.”

The Masterpiece Living® program enables staff at The Buckingham to develop a customized development program for each resident, based on a preliminary Lifestyle Review that benchmarks where they currently are in all four areas: physical, intellectual, social and spiritual.  The review asks key questions in each lifestyle area, such as “On average, how often do you get out of your apartment?”; “When was the last time you learned something new?”; “What physical conditions limit you from exercise?”, and many more.

The results of these reviews are entered into a software program to establish benchmarks against a database of seniors nationwide, and matched only against those in the same age group. The Buckingham staff then counsels with each resident to create a customized development plan for them based on the outcomes they want to realize in each life area. The plans are as individual as the residents they guide.

The personal program breaks down each of the four major areas into four subset areas to provide a very actionable plan on a practical level.  For example, the physical focus area is subdivided into preventative screening, physical activity, body mass index, and nutrition.  Each of these can offer insights into broadening healthy practices—such as reviewing exercise for variety and physical limitations. In all cases, residents are encouraged to adopt the healthiest approaches based on outcomes that motivate them—such as greater independence, interesting learning opportunities and a sense of well being.

“We really like the way Masterpiece Living empowers us to shape community resources to our residents in a very personalized way,” said Lightfoot. “Beyond that, it actually empowers the residents to directly shape our resources and even add to them, such as when one of them requests a certain kind of exercise or social program or ask that we invite a particular author or lecturer.  The possibilities are endless.”

ABOUT THE BUCKINGHAM

The Buckingham is Houston’s premier life care senior living community located in the heart of the Memorial neighborhood.  Situated on a 17-acre site along Buffalo Bayou at 8580 Woodway Drive, The Buckingham offers resort-style services and amenities for active, independent seniors, as well as all levels of health care services on-site at The Plaza at The Buckingham.  The community features 205 independent living residences; 42 private assisted living apartments; 16 private memory support apartments; and 60 private skilled nursing suites.

The Buckingham is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit senior living community sponsored by Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), a Texas-based nonprofit organization that sponsors sister communities Edgemere in Dallas, Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin, The Stayton at Museum Way in Fort Worth, and Mirador in Corpus Christi.  For information visit www.buckinghamhouston.com, or call (832) 426-1372.