About IDEAS Inc.

I.D.E.A.S., Inc. [Innovative Designs in Environments for an Aging Society] was incorporated in 1991 by Margaret P. Calkins, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert on environments for people with dementia. Its mission is to engage in research, education and consultation on the therapeutic potential of the environment--organizational and social as well as physical--particularly as it relates to frail and impaired older adults.

I.D.E.A.S., Inc., is committed to assisting organizations in the creation of more supportive settings for older people, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. We firmly believe that successful care settings are grounded in a clear philosophy which directly impacts all aspects of the setting, from specific care practices, to operational systems such as meals and laundry, to staff training, to the design of the physical environment—inside and outside.

Our dedicated team of professionals is specially trained to assist facilities in articulating their philosophy and model of care, which can then be refined into a set of prioritized therapeutic goals. These goals then serve as the basis for making decisions at all levels of care planning and implementation, including design decisions.