AFLA Announces 2014 ALFA Senior Living Art Showcase Winners

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) has announced the winners of the 2014 ALFA Senior Living Art Showcase, a competition honoring the passion for community and extraordinary talents of seniors in assisted living, independent living, and memory care communities across the country. Each senior living community was asked to submit one digital photograph of a piece of artwork created by the collaborative efforts of at least three residents. Hundreds of creative residents from 158 communities, representing 33 senior living companies participated.

Eight winners were selected from the pool of 158 exceptional submissions. Three Fan Favorite Winners were chosen based on popular vote through Facebook, and five Grand Prize Winners were chosen based on their interpretation of this year's theme: It's The Little Things in Life that Matter Most. The winners are:

• Harmony, Fallbrook Woods Residential Care, Fan Favorite Winner
• Help Feed Birds Tree, College View Manor, Five Star Quality Care, Fan Favorite Winner
• Helping Hands/Touching Lives, Foundation House, Brookdale, Grand Prize Winner
• It's The Little Things That Matter Most, Murrieta Gardens Senior Living, Integral Senior Living, Grand Prize Winner
• Live, Laugh, Love, Alexian Village, Pathway Senior Living, Grand Prize Winner
• Love, Andara, Senior Lifestyle Corporation, Grand Prize Winner
• Memory Garden Mosiac, Oak Meadows Senior Living, Grand Prize Winner
• The Flight of the Butterflies, The Arbors at Shelburne, Benchmark Senior Living, Fan Favorite Winner

Each of the eight winning communities will receive a painting party, featuring a variety of art supplies courtesy of art showcase sponsor Sargent Art.

"Art is a powerful tool for residents to enjoy, experience and share," says Program Manager Bhakti Oza with Sargent Art, a national art materials supplier.

"This year's competition truly demonstrated the friendships between residents and staff in senior living. Residents came together to tell stories about the things they honor most, learn about their friends' lives, and share ideas about how to unite these cherished items into one masterpiece," said Richard P. Grimes, ALFA president and CEO. "The eight winning pieces serve as shining examples of the engaging, community environment that is present in senior living communities across the country."

About ALFA - Creating the Future of Senior Living

ALFA is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the seniors and families they serve. Since 1990, ALFA has advocated for choice, accessibility, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all seniors. ALFA's programs promote business and operational excellence through education, research, publications, professional networking and online tools designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurism in the field of senior living. Visit ALFA's website at www.alfa.org.