About Us
Our Story
We (Ali & Carolyn) started MemoryCo back in 2015 to help seniors as a passion project, as we both had grandparents that suffered from Alzheimer's. We started as a bootstrapped company, using what little funds we had to build our website. I (Carolyn) have a background in business, art, and working with seniors. Ali's PhD training is in Neuroscience and Memory. With his clinical knowledge and our combined experience, we started to make senior games that helped with memory and cognitive support. Our light bulb moment came when the idea dawned on us to allow the use of personalized images and content in the games. Using content that is actually relevant to the seniors playing (i.e. faces of people they know or images of familiar things/places, and trivia based on their own experiences) is very impactful: it engages them more since the content is familiar, it helps build connections, and it triggers long term memory. We continued our research and development as we built and expanded our games and activities. We did workshops at various AL and MC facilities to see what resonated with seniors, what they liked, and how to best serve them.
Since then we have gained a lot of insight in regards to senior care and the challenges involved. We have the deepest respect and gratitude for Activity Directors and Life Enrichment professionals. We have seen first-hand how challenging it is, how much energy is needed, and how heart-wrenching it can be. They are the most amazing people with one of the most important jobs in senior living. They need more recognition for what they do. They need more support all around. After gaining these insights, our passion was fueled even more. What a group of amazing and hard-working people. How fulfilling it would be to help them- and THROUGH them, help seniors. With continuously shrinking budgets, we knew there was a need for an affordable engagement platform in senior living. We couldn't get any funding or investors (we tried!) so we had to figure out a way to build MemoryCo while paying the bills. I used my knowledge from being a Financial Advisor, and we bought/renovated an old multifamily house in my hometown (in Massachusetts) several years ago as a way to have more passive income-- this way, we could build MemoryCo and keep it affordable! Today, MemoryCo's EngagedSenior platform is being used by all levels of senior living and is proving to be a helpful and invaluable resource to many. We hope to keep growing and to keep bringing entertainment, engagement, connection, and cognitive support to seniors everywhere--including yours
MemoryCo Tablets
We wanted to help bridge the gap between seniors and technology. Because of this, we incorporated a tablet lease option with our program. What makes our tablets unique is that we curate them specifically for senior use. They are simple, straightforward, and easy to use. They have larger than average icons, text, and fewer apps and programs, simplifying the whole experience to take out the potential frustrations of using a tablet. Also included with our tablets are stylus pens (greatly helps shaky or arthritic hands), a cord to hook up to the TV for group games, and a simple tutorial that quickly teaches seniors the correct pressure to use. It's amazing to see seniors that have never used a tablet before take to them so quickly. We often had a hard time getting the tablets back from the residents. It was like a new world was at their fingertips!
We have recently been showcased as an innovative company at the MedTech Innovator Conference in San Diego, CA, and are actively working with senior living communities and caregivers across the world.