“Aging begins the day we are born and ends the day we depart. Aging is an evolutionary process that nourishes and expands our prosperity through knowledge and lifelong experiences. Embracing, cherishing, celebrating and respecting aging should be our culture and our way of life. Aging should be revered!” The word “Svayus” means “life full of vigor.” That’s the kind of life Makesh is trying to create for the elderly and individuals with Alzheimer’s who come to his communities for care. As the CEO and founder of the Lantern group, with three locations in Ohio, Makesh is using an innovative combination of therapies, design thinking and technology to create what he calls a Svayus approach to memory care: “a time capsule designed to cue, facilitate, nurture and retrieve memories to enable elderly live a life that is cheerful, brimming with happiness and vigor.” His approach includes designing communities that makes an effort to remind residents of their lifelong experiences and to promote functional independence. To put them at ease and reduce the agitation and anxiety that often plagues those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s is one of the primary objectives of the Svayus program. The care program utilizes the individual’s environment, learning and activities to activate repressed memories and stimulate newer learning.

Jean designed a state-of-the-art award-winning assisted living and cognitive care communities in Ohio. His fascination and passion to aging was the impetus to design and create a therapeutic care program that is one of its kinds in the country and in the world. Some of his recognitions include Entrepreneur of the year, Model practice award and Next Avenue’s 2016 top 50 influencers in aging in the country. Mr. Makesh was featured in various local and international media. He holds an undergraduate and a master’s degree in Occupational therapy and a master’s degree in Business administration.

Jean Makesh is on a personal mission to support, educate and equip the elderly, caregiver’s, family members and healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources about the Alzheimer’s disease, its prevention and treatment. His goal is to continue design, develop and construct state of the art communities and therapeutic care models in the US and other parts of the world. His objective and mission are to combine his knowledge and experience to contribute and impact policies and practices in the areas of elderly care, good and efficient business practices and humankind. Jean Makesh was featured on TEDx Indianapolis. He used the opportunity and the platform to share his innovative design and the treatment program to challenge and disrupt the way we think about Alzheimer and Dementia care- Rethinking Alzheimer’s Care Through Technology and Design