Engage As You Age

My family and I were so lucky to find Ben Lewis and Engage As You Age. After my mom passed away in 2013 my Dad was lost for companionship in the assisted living facility they had both been living. His cognitive decline escalated as a result of his grief. I worked with Ben directly; he listened, asked a lot of questions about my Dad's interests and matched several young men and women with my Dad for conversation ranging from art, music, photography, engineering, travel and theater. He didn't exactly know why these people were visiting him, but he would tell my siblings and me all about "so and so" that started up conversations with him. Once my Dad became unable to carry on conversations, and moved into memory care, we made the sad decision to discontinue "Engage" visits. The companionship and conversation that my Dad got to enjoy was a true blessing; my family and I are truly grateful.

A social worker at the memory care clinic suggested I call Engage as You Age to find companions for my husband who shared his interests. Ben brought in three wonderful people who played music, painted, took walks and talked with my husband for several years as he declined from Alzheimer's. Before working with Ben, I did not know where to turn for the kind of help my husband needed to keep connected to the ideas and activities he loved. He had lived a stimulating life; he still needed connection to people who could engage those parts of him. I cannot thank Ben enough for bringing the people who spent time and shared their interests with my husband into our lives. Watching my husband lose his awareness of the world was wrenching; Ben gave us support that no one else did--he helped me navigate the transition from home to a memory care facility, when my husband could no longer stay at home. His guidance and understanding of what my husband needed as he declined, and what I needed as a caregiver, kept me afloat during the most difficult period of my life.

Our family has been using Engage As You Age for over a year now, and they have been an absolute lifesaver. My wife has cognitive decline, and before finding this service, she required constant attention and entertainment at home, which was very challenging to manage alone. Their companions, Jacqueline and Natalie, visit every Tuesday and Thursday for 3 hours. They do a magnificent job keeping my wife active both physically and mentally. They plan wonderful outdoor activities and senior outings based entirely on her capabilities and interests—including scenic walks, birdwatching, coastal trips, museum visits, and eating out. The owner, Ben, provides exceptional hands-on care management. He is highly communicative, flexible with scheduling, and keeps me informed of any timing changes immediately. Ben even checks in with us monthly and takes my wife on his own 3-hour adventure, always bringing fresh, creative ideas to keep her stimulated. If you need a reliable, compassionate companion care service for a loved one with dementia or cognitive decline, I cannot recommend Ben and his incredible team highly enough.