Episode
Designing for Our Future Selves: If You Value It - You Evaluate It
- Podcast
- The Architecture of Healing
- Published
- Dec 3, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 2928
- Processing state
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Summary
In this thought-provoking episode, host Chase Miller welcomes Dr. Addie Abushousheh , a designer, researcher, and environmental gerontologist whose research sits at the intersection of neuroscience, organizational development, and healthcare design. Together, they unpack how environments act not merely as backdrops for care, but as active participants in the healing process. From her unconventional career path and early work in traumatic brain injury units to her leadership within the Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI) , Addie shares how evidence-based, human-centered environments can empower both patients and caregivers. Her insights challenge conventional thinking about architecture, healthcare operations, and what it truly means to design for "our future selves." Key Themes & Takeaways 1. The Environment as a Therapeutic Tool Spaces aren't neutral, they can either enable or disable human potential. Addie's work in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation revealed that intuitive design cues like contrast, lighting, and layout can reduce dependency on staff and improve independence. "When the environment functions like a prosthetic, it restores ability rather than reminding people of their limitations." 2. The "Competence-Press Model" and the Zone of Adaptation Derived from Powell Lawton's environmental gerontology research, this model describes the relationship between a person's capability and the complexity of their environment. The sweet spot, the zone of adaptation is where people perform and heal best. Too much simplicity can disable capable individuals; too much complexity can overwhelm the vulnerable. 3. Rethinking Age-Friendly Health Systems CMS's "Four Ms" framework; mentation, medication, mobility, and what matters most guides age-friendly healthcare. Addie…