An internationally recognized leader in environments for the elderly, particularly people with dementia. She is a dynamic speaker and has written extensively. Dr Calkins is President of Innovative Designs for an Aging Society (IDEAS). (Calkins)

Speech–Language Pathologist and is Project Director at the IDEAS Institute in Kirtland, Ohio. (Jennifer)

A version of this article first appeared in Journal of Dementia Care, Volume 10, No. 2. http://www.dementia.careinfo.org.

Address correspondence to: Margaret P. Calkins, PhD, President, IDEAS, Inc., 8055 Chardon Road, Kirtland, OH 44094. Telephone: 440/256-1880, e-mail: [email protected].

Building Ideas is dedicated to exploring the various ways the environment influences and impacts individuals with dementia and the settings they inhabit and experience. While the major topics covered in each column will be related to the theme of each issue, I invite you to write in with your quirky questions, sticky issues, persnickety problems, and creative or brilliant ideas. Let this be a forum for sharing with others as we travel along on our journeys with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.