[Article] Where care feels like home — and the next generation is learning why it matters

Karim Kassam (’93 BCom) believes that moving into a care community shouldn’t mean the end of a person’s story. It should be the start of a chapter defined by connection, dignity and being truly seen.

It’s what inspired him and his co-founder, Farid Damji, to build Optima Living — not just as a place for seniors to live, but as communities where people feel seen, supported and at home.

“We wanted to deliver a better resident experience for people who are aging in place,” says Kassam. “That’s what’s driven us from the beginning.”

In 2025, Optima Living committed $250,000 over five years to establish the Optima Living PhD Graduate Award for Innovation in Seniors Living, supporting doctoral research in areas like dementia care, healthy aging and artificial intelligence.

But inside Optima Living communities, the impact of this partnership is already being felt in deeply human ways.

One nursing student, reflecting on her placement, described her experience simply: she wasn’t just caring for residents — she was caring for “84 grandparents.”

For Kassam, moments like that speak to something essential.

“Quality of life isn’t just about medicine,” he says. “It’s about human touch. It’s about connection. When you have young people coming in with that energy and building relationships, it brings joy — not just to the residents, but to the students too.”

Through hands-on placements, U of A nursing students are gaining experience in seniors’ care while forming relationships that unfold over months and years. Instead of brief clinical encounters, they get to know residents — their stories, routines and personalities — and see how consistent, compassionate care shapes everyday life.