Christine Weber Craik brings over 20 years of experience working in the design industry, specifically in senior living, multifamily and geriatric healthcare design. She strives to create environments in which others can healthfully and happily live their best lives. She has received her Registered Professional membership with the ASID, IDC (IDIBC) and IIDA, and she is a Board Certified Healthcare Interior Designer with the AAHID and serves on the board of the non-profit German-Canadian Benevolent Society, whose mission is to provide quality care and support for seniors in British Columbia.

Christine is a guest lecturer for Senior Living Design at the British Columbia Institute of Technology for the Bachelor of Interior Design Program, and a volunteer Mentor and Award Juror for the IDIBC and the IIDA. Christine is a member of the BC Care Providers Association, the International Council on Active Aging and the Canadian Association on Gerontology.

Christine brings a depth of knowledge and experience having worked on complex projects in the senior living and wellness sector, including luxury independent living. assisted living, memory and dementia care, complex care and geriatric behavioral health environments in the United States and Canada.

Topics Discussed:

• How does the design of senior living environments differ from the design of other spaces?
  • Designing for senior living must first emphasize the humanity of the individuals living there
  • It is more than just a pretty residence - It must support, encourage, engage, and welcome every care giver and care receiver
  • It must feel safe, emotionally and physically - meaning it must be not just safe in terms of life safety, but it must feel safe i.e. recognizable and relatable, cozy, supportive
• Christine's design philosophy she created based on her experience, called "Sensory Design"
  • What are the main directives of Sensory Design? The idea that recreating spatial and sensory relationships that are familiar increases the health, well-being and happiness of our residents because their minds and bodies are intrinsically connected to the spaces in which they live
  • Familiarity = decrease in anxiety = increase in positive health outcomes = better quality of life
  • Deciding to move from the comfort of your home into a Modern Elders or Senior Living community is an emotional one
  • Recognition is essential for comfort in any space, especially for Boomers whom are smart consumers; they know what they want and expect excellence - Providing that high level of excellence, going beyond just surface appointments and “bling”,  involves design thinking that is outside the box
• Senior Living should be seen as a reward, not a consolation - How does the shape and character of Kasian’s design philosophy deliver?
  • Threading sensory design through all senior living work starts with a deep understanding of the end users
  • Responsive senior living communities offer exactly what your users want and need, not just what is trendy
  • What works in New York will not work as well in Phoenix; Likewise, what works in Scottsdale will not work as well in Tempe – two suburbs of Phoenix
  • Design should start with a lot of research, interviews, focus group discussions and study of existing communities, preferably, one-on-one interviews
  • Understanding begins with relationships, meeting people, hearing their stories, understanding their vision for what their dream senior living community looks and feels like

Christine's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-weber-craik/