Susan Drew

Livable Canada

Susan Drew

Market Segment Manager, Senior Living and Behavioral Mental Health, LIPA

Healthy Buildings: Selecting Interior Finishes to Support Human Health and Well-Being

History tells us that the built environment plays a central role in the spread of disease. Will our collective experience through this pandemic have implications for the future design and/or adaptation of our homes and communities? What do we need to consider when selecting floor and wall finishes?   This session will focus on some of the factors in the built environment as outlined by WELL v2™and the “9 Foundations of a Healthy Building” that influence human health and well-being, and considerations for creating safe, secure and healthy places to live, learn and work.

Learning Objective 1:

Learn how buildings impact the people inside them by reviewing the factors in the built environment that influence human health and well-being. 

Learning Objective 2:

Learn about the sources of microbes and the importance of an increased focus on hygiene in all public and private spaces. 

Learning Objective 3:

Discuss the role different types of surfaces and detailing play not only in infection prevention and control but also the general health of our indoor environments.

Home Adaptation: Selecting “Fit for Purpose” Interior Finishes that Support Living in Place. 

The number of adults 65 years + continues to grow and the majority of these older adults want to remain in their own home and in their own community as long as possible…. 

But how do designers and home owners respond to this challenge?  How do we adapt our homes today to encompass our needs as we age?  The way a home looks is just as important as how it functions and one product doesn’t fit the needs of all situations. Each room in a home has different needs and unique challenges. This session will review Altro’s range of complementary floors and walls designed to give you the necessary options you need to create and maintain a safe and comfortable home.

Learning Objective 1 – Effects of aging

Learn about the physical changes to hearing, vision and mobility as well as the possible cognitive challenges that are faced as people age and how those changes affect the selection of interior finishes.

Learning Objective 2 – Promote health while fostering safety and security

Learn how the careful choice of floors, walls and transitions can create safer interior spaces

Learning Objective 3 – Fit for purpose map

Learn how to select “fit for purpose” floors and walls for your home

Both Sessions are Sponsored by:

Livable Canada

BIO

Market Segment Manager – Senior Living and Behavioral Mental Health for Altro Americas. A graduate of the University of Alberta’s School of Business with almost 20 years’ experience in the flooring/walling industry, Susan understands the importance of human centered design and product development. In the past 7 years, she has collaborated with the A&D community and end user groups across North America accumulating insight to the unique challenges of both the behavioral mental health and senior care environments. Susan’s passion is discovering, and sharing with others, solutions in the built environment that benefit our most vulnerable populations.