Cognitive Care Program
Cognitive Care Program
Velma provides cognitive support throughout the day to help with memory loss. We use research-backed techniques to help maintain routines, boost mood, reduce confusion, and make daily life easier.
Velma provides cognitive support throughout the day to help with memory loss. We use research-backed techniques to help maintain routines, boost mood, reduce confusion, and make daily life easier.
Program Overview
The Velma Cognitive Care Pilot Program is a structured, evidence-informed initiative developed by Velma to support individuals experiencing early to mid-stage cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment.
While the program is non-medical and does not provide clinical treatment, it is designed using established cognitive and behavioral frameworks commonly used in dementia care. The goal is to slow progression and enable individuals to remain independent at home for as long as possible.
Frameworks & Research
Frameworks & Research
Velma is informed by established research and clinical practices shown to support cognitive health, mood, and daily functioning in older adults, including those experiencing early cognitive decline
Velma is informed by established research and clinical practices shown to support cognitive health, mood, and daily functioning in older adults, including those experiencing early cognitive decline
Cognitive Reserve
Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and continue functioning despite age-related changes or neurological damage. Research suggests that regular mental stimulation, social engagement, and meaningful activity can help strengthen cognitive reserve over time.
This program is intentionally designed to support cognitive reserve by:
Encouraging frequent, varied cognitive activity
Reinforcing language, memory, and attention through structured engagement
Promoting social interaction and emotional well-being
Supporting routine and consistency, which help reduce cognitive load
While cognitive reserve does not prevent dementia, supporting it may help individuals maintain function, confidence, and quality of life for longer.
Why Early Cognitive Support Matters
Research and lived experience show that regular mental stimulation, conversation, and routine can help:
• Slow cognitive decline
• Reduce anxiety and isolation
• Improve mood and engagement
• Support a sense of independence and dignity
This program focuses on filling the gaps between family visits and formal care.
Therapeutic Approaches Used
The program draws from well-established, evidence-based techniques that are adapted to feel natural and supportive rather than clinical.
Creative Thinking & Problem Solving
Guided prompts and open-ended exercises that encourage individuals to generate new ideas, imagine possibilities, and think flexibly. Creative problem solving supports active thinking rather than recall alone, helping individuals practice planning, reasoning, and adaptability. Encouraging original thought helps reinforce confidence, autonomy, and engagement, while exercising cognitive skills involved in executive function and flexible thinking.
Reminiscence Therapy
Guided conversation focused on meaningful past experiences, familiar memories, and personal stories. This approach helps strengthen identity, improve communication, and promote positive mood by engaging long-term memory.
Recall & Brain Exercises
Simple cognitive activities such as recalling recent conversations, naming familiar people or places, word-based exercises, and guided reflection. These exercises are designed to gently stimulate memory, attention, and processing without frustration.
Social Conversation for Mood Support
Regular, friendly conversation helps reduce isolation, lift mood, and increase overall engagement. Social connection itself is a powerful tool for supporting emotional well-being and cognitive health.
Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (CBT-informed)
Used in a gentle, non-clinical way to help reduce anxiety, support emotional regulation, and encourage positive thought patterns. These techniques can help individuals feel more confident, calm, and engaged during daily interactions.
Supporting Research
Click on the articles below to read in-depth, published research studies.
Brain Plasticity in Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Even in early cognitive decline, the brain maintains adaptability (neuroplasticity), supporting the idea
that ongoing engagement can help preserve function and responsiveness.
Impact of Cognitively-Stimulating Activities on Brain Structure and Cognitive Function
Regular engagement in mentally stimulating activities is associated with better cognitive performance and healthier brain structure, reinforcing the value of structured interaction.
Cognitive Reserve: Memory aging and brain maintenance
“Cognitive reserve” refers to the brain’s resilience to age-related changes; mental and social engagement contributes to that resilience.
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Journal (2024) Non-Pharmacological Interventions
Structured engagement and social interaction have meaningful associations with cognitive and emotional wellbeing in early decline.
JGS Article on Engagement & Quality of Life in Older Adults
Daily meaningful activity and social engagement correlate with better mood, function, and quality of life in older adults.
Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring
Routine cognitive and social engagement is associated with support for daily function and independent living.
CARES Framework Alignment
This program is aligned with the CARES framework for dementia-support technology, a research-backed model that highlights how tools can meaningfully support individuals with cognitive decline and the families caring for them at home.
The CARES framework identifies five key areas where technology can reduce burden and improve quality of life:
Cognitive Offloading
Support that reduces pressure on memory through reminders, prompts, and simple cues.
Automation
Handling repetitive or routine interactions so caregivers don’t have to manage every task themselves.
Remote Support
Regular check-ins that help families stay connected and informed, even when they can’t be present.
Emotional & Social Support
Ongoing conversation and connection to reduce isolation, anxiety, and low mood.
Symptom Support
Activities and engagement designed to support mood, focus, and cognitive health, and to help slow decline.
This pilot program intentionally addresses all five CARES domains, with a focus on supporting care at home.
Clinical Oversight
The program was developed by a biomedical engineer from the University of Pennsylvania, with guidance from a consulting neurologist from the University of Illinois Chicago who helps shape the structure of the cognitive activities and overall approach.
We also work closely with a Speech-Language Pathologist (MA, CCC-SLP), a faculty member at Eastern Kentucky University who actively supports individuals in care settings. Their input helps ensure the program’s communication style and language-based activities are thoughtful, clear, and appropriate.
In addition, we’ve brought in advisors across nursing, medicine, caregiving, and senior wellness. This broader perspective helps us design interactions that feel supportive, respectful, and easy to engage with.
Together, this multidisciplinary input helps the program stay aligned with best practices in cognitive and communication support while remaining non-medical, approachable, and focused on day-to-day engagement.
Contact Us
If you believe this program could be a good fit for your parent, or if you would like more information:
Please contact us directly:
team@heyvelma.com
(617) 299-0985
This program is not a medical service and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or emergency care.