Aegeliss Pilot Finds Dementia Care Tools Double Resident Engagement During High-Agitation Hours
Bellevue, United States - October 29, 2026 / Aegeliss /
Aegeliss, based in Bellevue, Washington and founded in 2024, develops visual supports and Montessori dementia activities designed to make daily life more manageable for people living with dementia. Since its first products launched in January 2026, the company has established relationships with more than 20 U.S. care and research organizations and has sold to families across the country. A recent pilot at a memory care community found that Aegeliss puzzles held residents' attention twice as long per session as a commercially available dementia puzzle.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Daily Dementia Care
Physical accessibility features such as ramps, grab bars, and adapted bathrooms have reshaped built environments for people with mobility needs. Cognitive accessibility addresses a distinct set of daily barriers: locating a nearby bathroom, recalling where household items belong, or initiating a routine task such as brushing teeth. These challenges affect the estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older living with Alzheimer's dementia in 2026, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Despite the scale of need, purposefully designed consumer dementia care tools remain limited. Families frequently encounter products that feel clinical or age-inappropriate, or that depend heavily on caregiver involvement to function.
Aegeliss addresses this gap through two product lines. Its visual supports are designed to make everyday spaces and routines easier to navigate and understand. Its adaptive activities draw on Montessori principles of purposeful, self-directed engagement - an approach that informs the broader category of Montessori dementia activities. Both lines were developed in collaboration with the Center for Applied Research in Dementia (CARD), with input from a speech-language pathologist, people living with dementia, and their care partners.
Occupational therapist Dr. Brandy Archie, founder of AskSAMIE, called Aegeliss "the dementia care brand every family caregiver should know about." Founder Ju Tu has also been a featured guest on Dementia Careblazers, a widely followed caregiving resource.
Pilot Study Results and Community Adoption
During an 11-week pilot at a memory care community, residents living with moderate dementia used Aegeliss puzzles in late-afternoon sessions - a time of day when many people living with dementia experience heightened agitation and confusion. Participants engaged with the Aegeliss puzzles twice as long per session compared to a commercial puzzle marketed for dementia care. Every observed session concluded with a positive mood outcome.
Aegeliss is co-publishing the findings and methodology with the community partner in a forthcoming white paper. Additional studies are in development with the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the University of South Florida's School of Aging Studies.
Aegeliss products are used across the care continuum. Customers include UW Medicine Valley Medical Center, Flying Angel Home Care, and the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, alongside memory care communities and individual families. The adaptive puzzles have also been used in sensory rooms serving people with disabilities. The products require no screens, power, or internet connection. They are available at www.aegeliss.com and through RehabMart and AskSAMIE.
Community Programming and Thought Leadership
In summer 2026, Aegeliss hosted Puzzle Together, Joy Together at Spring District Park in Bellevue, supported by the City of Bellevue's Community Programming Fund. The series brought people living with dementia, families, and care partners together through shared puzzle activities structured to encourage outings, reduce isolation, and create opportunities for social connection.
Founder Ju Tu presents practical approaches to cognitive accessibility at professional conferences. She presented at the 2026 Washington Health Care Association Annual Conference and is scheduled to join panels at the Formidable Women's Health Summit in Bellevue on October 30 and the National Caregivers Conference in Princeton, New Jersey, in November 2026.
"Families and care professionals deserve tools designed with the dementia experience in mind," said Giulia Benvenuto, Community & Partnerships Manager at Aegeliss. "When the environment gives a clear cue or an activity offers the right level of challenge, people living with dementia can do more for themselves, and that changes the day for everyone around them."
About Aegeliss
Founded in 2024 and based in Bellevue, Washington, Aegeliss develops cognitive accessibility tools for everyday care, with a focus on dementia. Its visual supports and Montessori-inspired engagement products are designed for people living with cognitive challenges and their care partners. The company serves families and care organizations across the United States and has also reached customers overseas.
Media and partnership inquiries may be directed to Giulia Benvenuto, Community & Partnerships Manager, at partnerships@aegeliss.com or 425-224-6816.
Learn more at Aegeliss
Contact Information:
Aegeliss
1915 140th Ave NE, Suite D2, 335
Bellevue, WA 98005
United States
Giulia Benvenuto
+1-425-224-6816
https://www.aegeliss.com
