Memory loss can shrink a person's world. Friends stop calling, conversations get harder, and days fill up with television. Since 2009, Engage As You Age has matched thousands of Bay Area older adults, many of them living with dementia or Alzheimer's, with companions who bring back conversation, purpose and a reason to look forward to the week.
We are not home care. Our Activity Specialists don't help with bathing, dressing or medications. They add the social and intellectual side of life that caregivers rarely have time for, and they work alongside whatever care is already in place.
What a visit looks like
We meet the person where they are. Our Activity Specialists find creative ways to reconnect them with past interests, and to introduce new hobbies and activities as their capacity, energy and patience change.
Some visits bring the outside world into their home. Others go out to discover something new, or to return to familiar places that bring back great memories. A great conversation over a cappuccino in the park can be as meaningful as a symphony rehearsal or a new art opening at the de Young. We do all of those things.
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Reconnecting with past interests: the music, books, art or work they have always loved, shared with someone who cares about the same things.
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Discovering something new: a new hobby, class or project chosen for what they can enjoy today.
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Bringing the world home: music, conversation, projects and the news brought to them when getting out is harder.
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Getting out: a park, a café, a museum, a concert, or a favorite neighborhood from years ago.
Connecting at every stage
Dementia changes how people connect, not whether they can. We adjust the visit to the person in front of us.
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Early-onset and early stage: people in their 50s and 60s, or early in the disease, often still want purpose, exercise and peers: a hike, a museum, a class, a real project.
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Middle stage: familiar routines, music, photos, simple projects and short outings. Companions adjust to good days and harder ones.
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Advanced dementia and aphasia: when words are hard or gone, connection still happens. Music the person loves, a hand to hold, looking at photos or a garden together, reading aloud, a calm and unhurried presence. Our companions learn to read expression, tone and body language, and they don't rush to fill the silence.
How we match for dementia
The right match matters more with memory changes, not less.
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Ben meets the person first. Our founder, Ben Lewis, does the assessment himself and learns their story, their humor and what to avoid.
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Matched to feel like a real friend. Our Activity Specialists come from all different ages, backgrounds and experiences. Ben thinks about personality, shared interests and how the two of them will look and feel together, at home or out in the world. The goal is to bring someone into the person's life who truly feels like a friend, someone they'd naturally gravitate toward. For dementia, he also looks for real patience and a calm presence.
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A consistent companion who grows with them. Consistency is what lets trust build, and the same person can stay through every stage. If a change would serve the person better, we work it out with you.
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A gentle first introduction. Ben makes it himself, around something the person enjoys.
Where we visit
At home, in assisted living, in memory care and in board-and-care homes, across San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa and Sonoma counties. We also offer video visits anywhere. Visits are a minimum of two hours, usually once or twice a week.
Keeping you informed
After every visit, you get a short note: what they did, what they talked about and how the person seemed. Changes in mood, health, cognition or safety are reported the same day. For families, care managers and fiduciaries, that means an extra set of eyes and ears.
Common Questions
Do your Activity Specialists have experience with dementia?
Many do, and every Activity Specialist is interviewed in person by Ben, reference-checked, professionally background-checked and trained by our staff. For someone living with dementia, Ben looks for patience, and for someone who will look and feel like a natural friend to them, at home or out in the world.
Can you work alongside home care or memory care staff?
Yes. Many of our clients have both. Caregivers handle personal care; our Activity Specialists handle connection and engagement.
What if my parent doesn't remember the companion between visits?
That's common, and it's fine. People often remember how a visit felt even when they don't remember the details. Consistency, the same person on the same day, is what builds comfort over time.
Can a companion take someone with dementia on outings?
Often, yes. Our Activity Specialists can drive, and we add outings once there's trust and it's safe to do so. We start at home and add outings when the person, the family and Ben feel ready.
How long and how often are visits?
A minimum of two hours, usually once or twice a week. Two hours gives enough time to settle in and do something meaningful.
Do you work with early-onset dementia?
Yes. We work with people in their 50s and 60s living with early-onset dementia, including early-onset Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Visits often look different: hikes, museums, classes and real projects with a companion who shares their interests.
What People Say About Us
“Ben and his team are masters in connecting a senior with a companion who shares their interests and values. I have seen magic connections for many of the people in my care who have brought Ben and his team in for support. Can’t recommend their services strongly enough!”
Dr. Catherine Madison / Neurologist, San Francisco
“As her trustee and POA, I’ve been overseeing her housing and care in a memory care community … Ben has been able to match my friend with the perfect companions, and has been wonderful in communicating any observations or concerns, or just fun adventures, often with photos.”
Doug M. / Trustee