Why Later Living and care?
From as early as I can remember my nana lived with dementia. Moving from low care communities to high acuity care facilities as her condition progressed and more challenging behaviour emerged over her 20yr diagnosis.
The memories of visiting my dear nana in these care homes will never leave me. These were highly depressive and medicalised environments, devaluing and void of any purpose and joy or sense of place, and dismissive of any meaningful connections to people, community and nature.
I remember thinking, even as a 7yr old, surely we can be doing better than this? It’s an experience and question that continues to drive me, even today, as an architect of 18yrs specialising in the creation of seniors living communities.
I want to make meaningful and positive contributions to how we age.
What’s a career highlight?
There is one which stands out. And speaks directly to my own experiences visiting my nana which has recently been triggered and heightened since becoming a mother. I will never tire from visiting one of our care communities and seeing the engagement and connection of residents with their families and loved ones. Especially grandchildren. The sound of laughter and joy and story-telling is simply magic.
Why Life3A?
Simply put, there is nothing quite like what Life3A offers the later living market.
We offer a global perspective – across a design, research and strategic platform – to deliver on a singular promise. To create the most liveable and joyful communities, experiences and solutions for later living.
As the director of Research, I strongly believe in the collegial research and academic culture of knowledge exchange, enquiry and life-long learning. In my role, I am encouraged and empowered to foster partnerships and collaborative opportunities which intersect practice, industry and research. Transcending traditional silos in light of embracing a more holistic view to ageing. To ultimately inform and improve design, experience and operational outcomes for residents and communities, as well as organisations, care providers and workforce.
Con-currently, Nikki is also undertaking her PhD at Deakin University, researching the intersection between people, place, and purpose – as we age – and how these critical relationships impact the lived experiences of residents in care communities.
And additionally, is one of 18 National Next Generation Advisors, offering expertise to Leading Aged Services Australia on the advocacy, attraction and retention, improvement and ongoing support of professional services within the aged care sector.