About us

From a Personal Struggle to Becoming the Solution for Caregivers

Our Name: Aegeliss

Our name (pronounced ay-juh-liss) is our unconventional way of looking at the word "ageless."

The spelling was chosen to signal that aging can take many beautiful and unexpected forms. We believe the life journey isn't a single path, but one full of new variations and uniqueness.

Our symbol is designed with this same dual purpose. Look closely, and you'll see both the petals of a thriving flower and the gentle shape of caring hands. It is our love language in visual form: to uplift and provide the support that helps your loved one continue to blossom.

Together, Aegeliss is our commitment to you: to help you find and celebrate the independence, joy, and connection, when it matters most.

Our Product Design Philosophy  

Our five-pillar framework is focused on empowering caregivers. Inspired by Montessori principles, we create dementia-friendly activities and memory support that bring choices, joy, and confidence to you and your loved ones

Discover Aegeliss products

Meet Aegeliss

Founded in 2024, Aegeliss enhances the quality of life for individuals living with dementia, seniors, and caregivers, such as our parents and grandparents, through practical tools and engaging physical activities. Developing the best for our elders, knowing that every step we take helps create a brighter world today and builds a future filled with care, dignity, and love for generations to come

Our Vision

To create a world where every elder feels valued, supported, and empowered to live their life to the fullest

 
 
 
  • Ju tu, Aegeliss CEO and Founder

    Ju Tu

    Founder & CEO

  • Evan Shelton

    Gerontologist, Expert in Montessori Principles in Dementia Care

  • Natasha Hermani

    Speed Language Pathologist

  • Alex Dakin

    Alex Dakin

    Product Advisor

Our Start

Aegeliss begins with a personal need at home - to bring joy to my grandparents and keep my grandfather engaged.

- Ju, Founder of Aegeliss

A Letter from Our Founder

"I don’t really know what to do with your grandpa every day. Just meeting his physical needs is already mentally exhausting."

My grandmother’s quiet confession revealed the emotional weight that so many dementia caregivers silently carry. It’s a feeling of being responsible for everything, yet struggling to find meaningful ways to connect in a world where stigma persists.  

As a caregiving partner for my grandfather, I experienced this firsthand. I searched for high-quality, non-overwhelming tools to support him, but the options felt limited and often undignified. From this need, Aegeliss was born.

But I knew passion alone wasn't enough. I dove headfirst into what truly works, taking training in Montessori principles for dementia care and collaborating with the world's leading experts in the field. I also had to learn... well, everything else!

There were countless late nights and moments of uncertainty. It was mostly a lonely journey, and I often heard, "Why create brand new products for elders?" But I never let the doubt win. My reason was always clear: I wanted elders, like my own grandfather, to enjoy the best quality supportive tools and healthy brain activities. I wanted them to feel loved and deeply connected to the world.

And then, prototypes would finally click, and I’d see it in action: smiles on elders’ faces. Positive feedback started pouring in. Those smiles are worth every single challenge.

We are building something new here—a new category dedicated to cognitive wellness for elders. My dream is for Aegeliss to become a generational brand, one that restores dignity, sparks joy, and empowers everyone to live their lives to the fullest.

With love and gratitude,

Ju

Granddaughter, mom of two, and founder of Aegeliss

Our Startup Journey

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    May 2024: The spark

    It all began with a personal need: a desire to reconnect with my grandfather and ease the daily strain on my grandmother. Frustrated by the lack of dignified, high-quality activities, I saw a gap where thoughtful design and compassionate support belonged. We knew the eldercare community deserved better.
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    July 2024: The visits to manufacturing partners

    Leaving a stable career, I founded Aegeliss. It was a leap of faith, driven by the conviction that this was the intersection of my passion, my skills, and a profound need. To build this vision on a solid foundation, we traveled to meet a number of manufacturing partners in person, ensuring our commitment to quality from the very first day.
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    Sep 2024 - Mar 2025: Caregiver community listening

    We didn't assume we had the answers. We spent months in conversation with people living with dementia and the true experts: family caregivers (from spouses to grandchildren) and frontline staff in adult day centers and senior living communities. We listened to their challenges, hopes, and needs, making their insights the blueprint for every product we develop.
  • A sheet of The Familiar Space™ reusable TPE home labels with clear icons.
     

    Behind the Scenes: The Unseen Work

    Between these milestones were countless hours of grit: hand-sketching ideas, mastering new design tools, navigating the complexities of patents, and meticulously refining every detail with our designers and factory partners. The learning curve was steep, but every second was invested in our promise: to bring only the best to the memory care community.
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    Oct 2024 - May 2025: The hands-on experience

    We're obsessed with creating the best elder-friendly products, and that requires hands-on experience. To truly understand the world of engagement and interaction, our founder, Ju, volunteered weekly at Elderwise, becoming deeply involved with the memory care community.
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    May 2025: A Partnership of Purpose

    We formalized a strategic partnership with the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, the world's leading experts in applying Montessori principles to dementia care. This collaboration ensures every Aegeliss product is built on a foundation of proven, evidence-based methods.
  • Aegeliss product development advisor - Natasha
     

    June 2025: Adding Depth to Expertise

    We were honored to welcome Natasha Hemani to our advisory team. As both an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist and a family caregiver, she brings deep expertise in communication and cognitive pathways, adding another layer of scientific rigor to our product development.
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    June 2025: Getting our prototypes

    Receiving our first puzzle prototype was a magical moment. It was exactly what we'd hoped for, and more. It looked and felt premium, with thick, sturdy pieces and our signature "book format" packaging for barrier-free opening. While we still found a few areas to improve, the first round of user testing feedback reinforced our belief: we are on the right journey.
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    July 2025: Collecting feedback

    When we brought the puzzles for elders to try, we instantly noticed a problem: they had to look down while playing, adding strain to their necks, hands, and eyes. We immediately worked with our product expert to design an essential accessory—an adjustable bamboo stand—to make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable.
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    July 2025: Collecting feedback

    The arrival of our Home & Routine Labels prototype was a landmark moment. They felt premium, clear, and instantly usable. But the real proof came from user testing. When a caregiver named Jenny replaced her homemade signs with our labels, she saw an immediate, positive change in her husband's confidence and independence. Her smile confirmed everything. It’s this invaluable feedback from our community that fuels us and confirms we are on the right path.
  • The 2-in-1 Breathtaking Mountains puzzle book, closed.
     

    Oct 2025: Getting shipment ready

    This is the operational marathon! Our founder is meticulously managing the complex dance of global manufacturing and supply chain logistics. It’s a stage of intense coordination, from final quality checks at the factory to customs paperwork, all to ensure the products that arrive at our warehouse are flawless.
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    Dec 2025: Preparing for our launch

    With prototypes perfected and manufacturing in motion, our focus shifts to one thing: bringing Aegeliss to you. We are meticulously building our webstore and preparing to launch, ready to share these tools with the community that inspired them.

A person with dementia wants the same things that you and I want: a reason to get out of bed in the morning, quality social connections, opportunities to do things they enjoy, privacy and independence, and a sense of accomplishment.