12, Part 1: Avigail Eisenstadt

Today, I'm joined by Avigail Eisenstadt, CEO, Founder and Principal Interior Designer at AE Design Group. We discuss what is was really like for Avigail to land her first nursing home gig only one day after graduating from New York School of Interior Design, and her surprise of how much she loved it! We also speak about how Avigail blends her own unique style of hospitality design with her healthcare projects, and how healthcare won her over because of the profound and direct impact it has on the lives of residents, families and staff of the nursing homes, assisted living facilities and environments for aging she and her team design. Learn more about Avigail Eisenstadt and her firm AE Design group by visiting http://aedesigngroup.com. You can also reach out to Avigail directly by sending her an email to [email protected]. Thank you to our industry partner The Center For Health Design! Learn more about how CHD can support your firm by visiting: http://healthdesign.org. And to the American Association of Healthcare Interior Designers, thank you for your support of this program. Learn more about their certification program by visiting AAHID.org. http://aahid.org. In this episode you will learn:  How Avigail serendipitously found her first nursing home project just out of interior design school and how that put her on the road to healthcare design. Avigail's answer to my question, "What makes a dream project the best nursing home/senior living community in the world?" How you can still make an assisted living space beautiful with a limited budget. When you have empathy for one of the hardest life transitions of an older adult into an assisted living space, you can then begin to design the very best space for a resident. The family's perspective when they tour a prospective assisted living facility and why the last room (where the family sits down to talk) is the most important. The consideration of practical details to keep seniors feeling independent, like faucet in the bathroom has to be a level handle rather than a knob because it can be hard to grasp and turn. The importance of considering the mindset of both the staff and the resident. How a post occupancy evaluation of Avigail's very first project shaped her vision of future projects. The influence of high-end hospitality on healthcare design and how this has changed in the past 10 years since AE Design Group was established. FEATURED PRODUCT Porcelanosa's KRION® Solid Surface Material is made out of two-thirds natural minerals and a low percentage of high-resistance resins. KRION® is available in an array of colors, can be thermocurved or backlit, and is antibacterial – making it a perfect product for the healthcare industry. KRION® is also highly resistant to impacts and external elements (such as fire, chemicals, and frost), and is easy to clean and maintain.  Inspired by the properties of photocatalytic materials, Porcelanosa has evolved their KRION® Solid Surface material called K-LIFE. When K-LIFE comes into contact with light, it will be able to purify the air, expel harmful bacteria, and more. K-LIFE can easily be integrated into many applications – from wall coverings and claddings for ceilings, to custom tables, bars, sinks, shelving units and furniture. The application of K-LIFE in areas with high daily traffic, such as waiting rooms or reception areas, can assure a gradual decontamination of germs and lead to ongoing ecological benefits. Some research performed with KRION® K-LIFE, which has photocatalytic properties, proved that the material can significantly reduce the presence of bacteria. This revolutionary process has led to a patent pending, innovative, and exclusive product that will have a direct effect on our quality of life. Learn more about KRION® at https://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/what-is-krion/.