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 Press Releases

   
Handle with Care - Helping Seniors to Move Requires Extra Sensitivity
Grayslake, IL, August 6, 2008: Moving from one home to another can be a stressful event at any age, but for senior citizens it can be especially unsettling. Frequently their need to relocate has been precipitated by traumatic life events, such as the death of a spouse, illness or loss of income, and the labor involved in preparations and the move itself can be physically daunting.

Interior designer Ivette Lemons, owner of Cadtek Design in Grayslake, Illinois, became aware of the challenges seniors encountered when helping her own mother to relocate.

“There can be a lot more involved in a move the longer someone has lived in one place,” she said. “I realized that even for a highly competent older person the volume of work involved and the need to coordinate and schedule everything that needs to get done can be overwhelming.”

Becoming fully engaged in assisting her mother made Lemons aware that there was a need to fill in the relocation arena. That need prompted her to expand the scope of her business to offer move coordination services, managing everything from planning and packing to retaining, scheduling and supervision of moving contractors. It also provided her with insights and ideas for making senior relocation a less traumatizing experience.

“It’s important to create a sense of anticipation,” she said. “As the move approaches, it’s helpful to have new things to look forward to, things that can put the focus on the future instead of the past.” She offered some suggestions for smoothing the transition:

• Familiarize seniors with the new home environment – If possible, make some advance trips to the new home, apartment or condo. Tour the immediate area, identifying places to shop or socialize, learning where the local library and post office are.
• Decide on primary furnishings and placement – Relocating seniors are often downsizing and may be disposing of a good portion of their furnishings. Focus on what they will be keeping, by identifying primary pieces that will be making the move and where those will be placed in the new location. Sketch out a floor plan to help visualize how things will look. Shop for some small accessories or accents, and talk about where they’ll be used in the new setting.
• Ease transition jitters – The first couple of days and nights in a new home can be difficult for seniors, especially if they don’t have a spouse to share the new experience with. If you can’t be there yourself the first night and day after the major unpacking is completed, ask a family member or friend to spend a day or two helping with smaller tasks. Simply providing company and a friendly face in a new environment can go a long way toward easing the relocation transition.

Cadtek Design, LLC is located in Grayslake, IL, and offers both residential and commercial move coordination in addition to its full scope of commercial interior design services. Clients range from large corporate organizations and small businesses to residential homeowners. Website at www.cadtek-design.com

 Economic lull can be a good time to take a fresh look at work space 
Grayslake, IL, July 23, 2008: The unsettled state of the economy has caused many small and emerging businesses to put workplace improvement, expansion or relocation plans on hold. As a result, some business owners may be feeling the pinch of operating under less than ideal conditions, including cramped employee work environment; insufficient inventory or storage space; and minimal or non-existent visitor areas.

The answer to the dilemma could be to take a new look at the configuration of the overall business floor plan, suggests Ivette Lemons, interior designer and owner of Cadtek Design in Grayslake, Illinois.

“Businesses that used only a ‘bodies per square feet’ ratio to calculate the number of office cubicles or production workstations are often surprised when that original layout is re-assessed,” Lemons said. “By taking less obvious factors into consideration, it can be amazing how efficiency is improved or how much space is recovered.”

Some of the additional factors include:

• Nature of work – Think about the interaction that will be needed between different employees, and place those individuals within closer proximity to each other. This cuts down on foot traffic as well as the tendency to have distracting conversations across other workers or over cubicle walls. If you can effectively group people working on like tasks in a shared area, that can also save space.
• Perimeter floor space – Assess usage of the perimeter space surrounding workstations or cubicles. Are fax machines and copiers easily accessible? Would it save travel time and distance to have supply stations in two or three different areas? Is there an easily navigable path for staff or visitors passing through the office, one that will minimize employee distraction?
• Visitor reception – Even if a company does not have a lot of direct customer traffic, it still needs an appropriate waiting area for visitors, including vendors, salespeople or job applicants.

“This space doesn’t need to be massive or lavish,” Lemons said. “It can be as simple as a few chairs and a small table with trade publications. If there is room, include a display of company products or information about services. It’s important to present a professional appearance to every visitor, including prospective employees.”

Cadtek Design, LLC is located in Grayslake, IL, and offers a full range of commercial interior design services to clients ranging from large corporate organizations to new and expanding small businesses. The company also offers both commercial and residential move coordination services. Website at www.cadtek-design.com

Workspace design is as important in the home as at the office
Good planning and simple changes can help work-from-home professionals to succeed 
Grayslake, IL, May 24, 2007: During the past twenty years the boundaries of the corporate workplace have rapidly expanded from the traditional office work environment into the family home. As America entered the new millennium the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that close to 20 million people did work from home as part of their primary job, the majority of them managerial staff, salespersons or professionals.

As this worksite migration continues, a major concern for employers and workers alike is keeping productivity and efficiency levels high. Ivette Lemons, commercial interior designer and owner of Cadtek Design, believes that thoughtful planning of the home office and actual workstation can be critical to job success.

“The layout and aesthetics of your workspace at home are just as important as they would be in a traditional office setting,” said Lemons. “In fact, it’s even more essential to define your work area at home carefully in order to maintain a comfortable balance between business-related and family activities.”

She offers a number of insights and tips to help create a home office environment that works:

• If you don’t have the luxury of establishing your office in a separate room, select an area of the house that has the least traffic and as few distractions as possible.
• Sketch out the proposed space before doing anything else. Take measurements to determine if the furniture and equipment you visualize in your immediate work area will actually fit there. If square footage is limited, consider purchasing a wraparound style desk, with attached credenza or cabinets that can utilize the corner of a room and also serve to physically define your office territory.
• Take stock of the physical environment before setting up. Is there sufficient light and ventilation? Can you reach your files, manuals or frequently used materials easily? Make a list of the technology you will be using – then check to be sure the available electrical outlets and phone jacks will support your computer, printer, and the myriad of other peripheral devices you may need. Consider hiring a contractor to review any electrical concerns or increase capacity.
• Make sure you the chair you use in your workspace is both comfortable and ergonomically correct. Productivity can plummet and health issues arise when you “make do” with the extra kitchen chair instead of one that is designed to provide proper support and is set at the correct height for desktop work.
• Most importantly, create a working environment for yourself that is as attractive and efficient as possible. Don’t skimp when it comes to considering painting, new carpet, office furniture, lighting elements and even artwork for the walls.

“After all, “Lemons said, “this is the space where you spend much of your professional life – and making it pleasant and enjoyable to work in is an investment in yourself and your business success.”

Cadtek Design, LLC is located in Grayslake, IL, and offers a full range of commercial interior design services for a variety of clients, ranging from large corporate organizations to new and expanding small businesses. Website at www.cadtek-design.com

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