Who Cares?: Cultivating a community of elder care on the Sunshine Coast

“Who Cares?” is a three-year research, design, and arts-based collaboration funded by CCSIF aimed at fostering a culture of community care on the Sunshine Coast through arts-based co-design processes. Building on emergent principles identified by Adrienne Maree Brown, this project looks at how we can foster an emergent model of care from the strength of relationships, connections, and networks in the Sunshine Coast community.

This is an evolving research approach that adapts and develops over time based on the community’s experiences, insights, and needs. Participatory art and design-based activities serve as a foundation for our team to identify gaps in the current care system, recognize existing strengths, and explore opportunities for future improvement.

This project is led by an interdisciplinary team including artists, designers, researchers, and recreation therapists from the Health Design Lab at Emily Carr University, the Therapeutic Recreation Program at Douglas College, and Deer Crossing the Art Farm, an arts non-profit on the Sunshine Coast. Additionally it engages with many community organizations, public sites and services on the Sunshine Coast, looking at how we can engage community, beyond dedicated health organizations, in how we care for elders.

Graphic Design Jessica Ruffolo and Kyla Zwack

Published by Occasional Press in 2022.
ISBN: 978-1-0688341-6-5 [Print]
ISBN: 978-1-0688341-7-2 [Digital]

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“Who Cares?” is a three-year research, design, and arts-based collaboration funded by CCSIF aimed at fostering a culture of community care on the Sunshine Coast through arts-based co-design processes. Building on emergent principles identified by Adrienne Maree Brown, this project looks at how we can foster an emergent model of care from the strength of…