Re-imagining Long Term Care
International Charrette @ Institute without Boundaries
“How might we design a safe and inclusive long-term care home for older adults?”
In Canada, 1 in 4 adults over the age of 85 have dementia. The number of people living with dementia continues to rise as the older adult population is increasing at a historic rate. Older adults living with dementia often need greater access to healthcare and support and may need to move into long term care facilities. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to surface the critical issues existing in long term care facilities.
I lead a team of 9 interdisciplinary students, from all across the globe in countries such as France, Ireland, Turkey, and Canada, were tasked to meet together virtually for the first time to tackle the Charrette challenge to design and re-imagine a long term care facility for older adults in advance stages of life.
Client: Long Term Care Commission
My Roles: Project manager, design researcher, storyteller, pitch presenter
Duration: 4-day sprint
Award: Winner – best in storytelling
wabi-sabi
[an aesthetics philosophy]
Our concept draws from the principles of Wabi-Sabi – a Japanese design philosophy, in setting the tone for our design. Wabi-sabi appreciates beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
Just like the changing needs and abilities of older adults. Life is in no means meant to be perfect or permanent. Yet we can learn to find the art of celebrating the beauty of aging through the impermanence of life.
with that, we came up with our concept, along with our take on the definition of aging in place that is – from aging in grace to dying with dignity.
Aging in grace is to be able to accept, adapt, and accommodate to the challenges as may come with life. And dying with dignity, is to be able to provide comfort and assistance for the older adult in helping them achieve a dignified and peaceful end of life.
Approach
Our team hosted a workshop with the LTC Commission to gain first hand insights and understanding towards the design criteria of the long-term care homes currently in Canada. Along with our secondary research, analysis, and synthesis, we came up with a number of insights that were reflective of the problem posed by the Charrette challenge.
Safety for the patients and staff are key factors to a successful long-term care home.
Feeling out of place culturally can cure discomfort in older adults. It is important to consider cultural and religious factors when designing a home for dementia patients.
The relationship between caregiver and older adult is crucial to successful aging in long-term care homes.
Human-centred care values the emotions along with fact based learning in order to give better care.
Personas
We performed a quantitative and qualitative statistical scan on older adults living with dementia and the caregivers involved in providing care. Based on our research we developed 2 user personas and their respective user journey maps.
Prototype
I led and facilitated collaborative work virtually with design exercises involving design brainstorm, synthesis, iterations, and finalization. The process was largely in a sprint format with well-thought out and time-boxed activities.
We performed site analysis and mocked-up a site plan. We took into account of factors such as user demographic, neighbourhood culture, environmental factors, and our design mission, vision, and goal.
I worked closely with the architectural technology members of the team to create rendering of Aging in Grace. Through rounds of discussions and iterations, we explored draft sketches, sketch-up renderings, and twinmotion renderings.
Project Outcome
In 4 days, I led the team to finish asset building along with the space rendering of Aging in Grace. On behave of my group, I storyboarded our team’s concept and presented to a panel of 50 industry advisors. Our team was recognized for our success in collaborative work, work efficiency, and storytelling.
Rendering of Aging in Grace – welcoming centre
Overview
Rendering of Aging in Grace – walkthrough
What kind of life would you like to envision for your grandparents, parents, and yourself?