InterDesign on the MOVE to end Alzheimer’s!

The following post was created for my office's corporate blog, but I've posted it here so I can get feedback from my loyal subscribers. The formatting is a little different on the company web and you can view the original blog post here. I hope the final paragraphs don't sound too much like a sales pitch. Please pass along your feedback, I'm certainly still a novice at blogging and appreciate any advice you can provide.

InterDesign has participated as a team for the second year in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk® in Indianapolis. A team of employees and family members raised money for research to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and provide programs to improve the lives of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

This year’s 5K walk started at IUPUI campus and went around the canal. It was a beautiful autumn day and everyone enjoyed the exercise and time together. The walk route had signs illustrating the 10 warning signs for the disease:

1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
4. Confusion with time or place.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
8. Decreased or poor judgment.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.
10. Changes in mood and personality.

For more information, go to www.alz.org/10signs

The InterDesign Team has the goal of raising $1,000 again this year, and we should be able to get there with a few post-walk donations. Click here to visit our Team Page.

While InterDesign is not active in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, we are dedicated to providing the best physical spaces for the care of people suffering from this disease and the staff who care for them. Our history of involvement in Alzheimer’s and memory care spaces goes back to 1990, with the addition of early and intermediate stage Alzheimer’s units to Franklin United Methodist Community in Franklin, Indiana. We have since completed designs for many dementia care facilities and continue dialog with caregivers and industry experts through our participation with the Alzheimer’s Association and other senior living organizations. Our very own Dan Ware has been a featured presenter at numerous conferences, helping to create a better understanding of the nuances of designing appropriate care environments for persons with dementia. He has championed the use of memory gardens, enhanced wayfinding, homelike design, and other design concepts to provide a better living and care environment. For example, research indicates that the affects of sundowning, a state of confusion at the end of the day, can be improved by providing adequate lighting, reduced shadows, and spaces programmed for a wide range of activities. Our continued involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association and other industry professionals provides us an open dialog that leads to a better design for our clients.

If you need any additional resources and assistance with Alzheimer’s and memory care facilities, just give us a call.