Learn how the program works, what to expect, and how we support families in this short 7-step guide ↓
What This Is
Physical Therapy for the Brain
The goal is to support brain health and help maintain cognitive function over time.
If you haven’t heard of cognitive therapy before, this is a non-medical program designed to support older adults experiencing memory changes.
We use structured cognitive exercises and guided conversations to keep the brain active and engaged throughout the day.
Research shows the brain continues to adapt and form new connections throughout life when consistently stimulated. Just like the body benefits from regular movement, the brain benefits from regular engagement.
Keeps the brain active and engaged throughout the day
Supports memory, problem-solving, and daily functioning
Uses structured exercises and guided conversations
Safe and non-medical, working alongside existing care
Why This Matters
Common Signs
Many families notice small changes over time. Even subtle shifts, like less engagement, increased confusion, or growing anxiety, can make routines feel harder and everyday moments less enjoyable.
These are common signs of cognitive changes, and noticing them early can make a real difference.
Worsening Memory
Forgetting conversations, appointments, or recent events
Less Engagement
Withdrawing from activities or social moments
Increased Confusion or Anxiety
Routines feel harder or more overwhelming
How This Helps
How This Supports Daily Life
Cognitive therapy works through small, consistent moments of engagement woven throughout the day. Brief conversations, guided exercises, and meaningful interactions support how the brain functions in everyday life.
Over time, families often notice meaningful changes, not just in memory, but in mood, confidence, and daily routines.
Improved Engagement
More participation in conversations and daily activities.
Better Mood
Reduced frustration, anxiety, and withdrawal.
Stronger Recall
More moments of recognition and easier recall of everyday memories.
More Meaningful Connection
Shared moments together become easier and more enjoyable.
Who We Are
The People Behind Velma
From Our Founder
I'm Lisa, the founder of Velma. Supporting my mom from several states away made me realize how hard it is to provide consistent care and engagement. I worried about her isolation, and that the long stretches she spent alone at home were accelerating her decline. As a biomedical engineer, I wanted to create a way to support her daily and feel confident I was doing everything I could to help her stay engaged and thinking clearly.
Since using Velma, her mood is brighter, she’s no longer depressed, and our conversations feel lighter and more meaningful. While I can’t stop the effects of aging, I can now track changes over time and feel confident she’s getting the support she needs.
Our Team
Alongside me is a compassionate team of care managers, engineers, practitioners, and advisors who bring this program to life every day. Empathy is core to how we grow. Many of our team members have supported loved ones with memory loss themselves or worked closely with families facing these challenges.
We want you to feel that you’re not just using a program. You have people who genuinely care, understand what you’re going through, and are here to support both you and your family member.
Why We Believe This
The Science Behind Velma
Velma is built on established cognitive stimulation and reminiscence research showing that consistent mental engagement can support memory, mood, and daily functioning over time.
What we're seeing in participants
Participants in our program show measurable improvements in several areas of cognition, including:
Attention & focus: staying engaged in conversations and activities
Working memory: holding and using information in the moment
Anterograde verbal: remembering things they hear or discuss
Anterograde non-verbal: recalling visual information and experiences
On average, participants show 20-60% improvement across these areas during early program participation.
Why this works
These outcomes align with a growing body of research showing that structured cognitive engagement can support cognitive function, mood, and quality of life beyond usual care alone.
How It Works
We Make Cognitive Support Easy
Velma brings daily cognitive support directly to your home through phone calls, guided exercises, and a flexible schedule. Our program is designed to be easy
Your Care Manager
You’ll be matched with a dedicated care manager who is your main point of contact. They manage exercises, adjust schedules, track progress, and share weekly summaries with you.
Custom AI Assistant
We’ll create an AI assistant tailored to your family member. It guides exercises during calls and monitors attributes like speech and recall, helping track cognitive changes over time.
Introductory Call
The first call introduces your family member to their care manager, the program, lets them try an exercise, and meets their AI assistant. This one call is all it takes to see if they’re interested, no commitment yet.
Program Decision
The introductory call lets you decide if the program is a good fit before paying anything. If you decide to start the program, the first month is $99 regardless of service level. After that, most families continue with the initial tier at $199/month, adjusted as needed.
Daily, Bite-Sized Sessions
To reduce fatigue, we start with 1 call per day, Monday through Friday, each lasting 15-20 minutes. The schedule can be adjusted to your family member’s comfort. Eventually, we'd like to work our way up to 3 calls a day.
Assessment & Custom Program
The first 3 sessions establish a baseline using friendly, approachable assessment questions. Then the care manager builds a custom program and tracks cognitive state regularly. You will get weekly emails of progress.
What's Next
Ready to Get Started?
Getting started is easy. We’ll guide you and your family through the first call and help you see if the program is the right fit before committing.
1
Short Consultation
Fill out a short form and share your availability. A member of the Velma team will call you for a consultation to learn more, answer any questions, and schedule an introductory session for your family member.
The introductory session is free and gives your family member a chance to experience the program firsthand.
2
Attend the introductory session
Your care manager will call your family member during the time window you selected. The session typically lasts 15–20 minutes.
During the call, they’ll be gently introduced to the program, try a few simple exercises, and meet their personalized AI assistant.
You’re welcome to join for support, but we recommend giving them space so the conversation feels relaxed and natural.
3
Review and decide
After the call, your care manager will check in to make sure the program feels like the right fit before officially starting.
