Memory Care Innovation Award Winner: Ted Tzirimis, CEO, Intrex

Ted Tzirimis, CEO of Intrex, has been named a 2025 Memory Care Innovation Award winner by Senior Housing News.

The Memory Care Innovation Awards program is designed to recognize passionate and innovative industry members who are shaping the future of cognitive care across behavioral health, home health and home care, hospice and palliative care, senior housing and senior living, and skilled nursing. To become a Memory Care Innovation Award winner, an individual must be nominated by their peers. The candidate should be a high-performing employee who knows how to put vision into action, serving as an advocate for those living with memory-related disorders and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

Tzirimis sat down with Senior Housing News to share his journey caring for patients and residents with cognitive care needs, his thoughts on the future of cognitive care in senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Memory Care Innovation Awards program and view this year’s winners, visit https://innovation.memorycarebusiness.com/.

SHN: How long have you been a part of the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry?

Tzirimis: I grew up in the senior living industry. My parents ran a Medicare-certified Home Health, Hospice, and personal care services company since I was born, so I grew up in that business.

I did not formally work in the industry as an adult until 2006, when I joined a company providing direct care to seniors in their home first as a Corporate Projects Manager, then growing into Regional Manager, and, ultimately, Chief Innovation Officer. During that journey I spent a lot of time with caregivers and patients understanding the challenges. Our agency had a specialized behavioral health program with lots of great goals and interventions for folks with dementia/Alzheimer’s, depression, and other conditions.

SHN: What drew you to caring for patients/residents with cognitive care needs?

Tzirimis: Growing up in the industry helped for sure. I also saw my grandparents go through home health and hospice.

A huge part of caring for seniors involves helping those with cognitive care needs. And, like many, having family members with dementia and seeing that firsthand provides a different level of understanding and compassion not only for the individual affected, but their family/support system of caregivers.

SHN: If you could change one thing about cognitive care in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be?

Tzirimis: More dignity preserving technology for safety and support.

SHN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will most impact your ability to provide cognitive care in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry in the next five years?

Tzirimis: As a technology provider, I would say regulation. As regulations change, we will be able to apply more (or less) technology-oriented solutions.

SHN: If you could describe cognitive care in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry in one word, what would it be and why?

Tzirimis: Intense.

There is just a level of seriousness that comes with caring for the most vulnerable. From hiring and training to having great and safe spaces, everything is more pressing and critical – from keeping the residents engaged, preventing wandering into other resident rooms, and protecting against falls to preventing elopements.

SHN: What’s been the biggest lesson you have learned throughout your career?

Tzirimis: Those providing care are just unbelievable people. To do what they do for the pay that they get, you know, it’s a special group of people.

SHN: If you could give yourself advice on the first day in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be and why?

Tzirimis: Walk in the shoes of everyone there to really understand the dynamics at play. It is truly eye-opening and it leads to better discussions, ideas, and, ultimately, improved outcomes.

SHN: In your opinion, what qualities should all Memory Care Innovation Award winners possess?

Tzirimis: Compassion for the individuals, curiosity for ways to improve care, and camaraderie for the other caregivers to act as a support when others are stressed or overwhelmed.

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