National Leaders Convene in Nashville to Advise on Final Design of Alzheimer's Purpose-Built Community

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Abe's Garden, a proposed residential community and daycare center for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, will host a summit for leaders in the field of creating environments for the elderly at an architectural planning session, better known as a "charette," on October 18.

Respected professionals from around the country will join those in Nashville at the full day event at the Nashville Public Television studios (at 161 Rains Ave) to discuss a wide-range of design topics that affect Alzheimer's and dementia care. Additionally, the nationally recognized leaders will share their knowledge of "best practices" to inform the final architectural and interior design for Abe's Garden.

The charette, and the ultimate design of Abe's Garden, will enable the organization to provide an unprecedented level of care and comprehensive array of services for individuals suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia in Middle Tennessee. Abe's Garden will also be a community setting a new standard of research and development for future programs and communities caring for our nation's rapidly expanding senior population.

The three nationally renowned design professionals will offer consultation and advice on how to integrate evidence-based elements that foster safety, cognitive and physical health, emotional comfort, and independence in routine daily activities into the final plans for the campus. Rosemary Bakker, ASID, MS, a gerontologist, certified interior designer, and an academic staff member at Weill Cornell Medical College; Margaret Calkins, Ph.D., a leader in the field of environments for the elderly; and Lorraine Hiatt, Ph.D., author and public speaker on the issues of design and planning, will share their combined expertise to help design Abe's Garden as a state-of-the art community.

The charette will be facilitated by Jody Lentz. Also participating in the discussion will be the Executive Director of Alzheimer's Resource Center of Connecticut, Michael Smith. Middle Tennessee representatives to the charette include Janet Ayers of The Ayers Foundation; Kim Hawkins and Allison Marusic of Hawkins Partners, Inc.; Deborah Robin, M.D. of Vanderbilt University; Saurabh Sinha of emids; Lesley Beeman, Mark Bixler, Carly Conrad and Manuel Zeitlin of Manuel Zeitlin Architects; as well as John Schnelle, Ph.D., Sandra Simmons, Ph.D., and James Powers, M.D., AGSF of Vanderbilt Center for Quality Aging.

"Hosting the charette is a reflection of our commitment to incorporating evidenced-based design into Abe's Garden. The breadth of knowledge represented by these respected participants will ensure the integration of best practices in our campus design," said Andrew B. Sandler, Ph.D., CEO of Abe's Garden. "Abe's Garden will be an innovative and comforting environment that provides individualized life enrichment programs to seniors and support for family members and caregivers.

"Abe's Garden is a pioneer in the field with the understanding that it takes a village to create an environment of care that will enrich the everyday lives and functions of persons with dementia, while creating an optimum work space for dedicated caregivers," stated Rosemary Bakker, ASID, MS.

Abe's Garden
Abe's Garden is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 2007. In 2008, the Nashville based organization purchased Park Manor, a well established senior independent lifestyle community; and recently converted the second floor into an assisted living community in response to the needs of current and future residents.  

On the Park Manor campus, Abe's Garden will provide evidence-based adult daycare and residential services designed specifically for individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. 

Abe's Garden will develop best practices for dementia care through a planned collaboration with Vanderbilt Center for Quality Aging. The venture could pursue research that evaluates programs and clinical outcomes. Research will be led by the recently endowed Abram C. Shmerling, M.D. Chair in Alzheimer's and Geriatric Medicine at Vanderbilt University.

SOURCE Abe’s Garden