They are advocates, spokespeople, and change-makers — people living with early-stage Alzheimer's, another dementia or mild cognitive impairment who dedicate their voices and time to shaping the future of dementia care, research and advocacy. But for one recent gathering, the Alzheimer's Association's National Early-Stage Advisory Group (ESAG) set aside their policy briefs and legislative testimony for something a little different: a Purple Play Pack, and an afternoon filled with laughter.
Ageless Innovation was honored to send Purple Play Packs to the Advisors — a group of extraordinary individuals who have spent years turning their personal experience with dementia into a national force for awareness, research, and compassion. The packs, filled with games and joyful activities designed with older adults in mind, were an invitation to simply play. What happened next was, by all accounts, exactly what play is supposed to feel like.
Founded in 2006, the Advisors have spent two decades amplifying the lived experience of people in the early stages of dementia. Their stories have reached more than 300 million people through national media appearances in outlets like The New York Times and NBC Nightly News. They have testified before the Social Security Administration, served on the National Alzheimer's Project Act Advisory Council, and contributed directly to the development of programs like the My ALZ Journey® app. In short, they are used to carrying weight — which made the lightness of a play session feel all the more meaningful.
The Purple Play Pack was designed to meet people exactly where they are — offering games that spark memory, encourage conversation, and invite connection without pressure or performance. For the Advisors, who often speak candidly about the importance of remaining socially engaged and mentally active after a diagnosis, the packs landed as more than just a gift. They were a reminder that joy is a form of resilience.
"We had a lot of fun playing the games." — Randy Hull, husband of ESAG Advisor, Pam
Members shared images and heartfelt feedback after receiving their packs. There were reports of competitive card game showdowns, spirited trivia sessions, and the kind of easy, unscheduled laughter that no calendar invite can manufacture. Several advisors noted that the games sparked conversation — about family, and about what it means to keep living fully in the face of a progressive disease.
That depth of connection is precisely what Ageless Innovation designs toward. The Purple Play Pack, like all Joy for All products, starts from a simple premise: play is not a luxury reserved for childhood. It is a lifelong human need — and one that carries particular power for people navigating cognitive change. Engagement, stimulation, shared laughter, and the feeling of winning a round of cards: these matter. The Advisors knew it instinctively. The play packs just gave them a new way to feel it.
Ageless Innovation is grateful to the Advisors for welcoming the Purple Play Packs into their community — and for offering feedback that will continue to inform how we design, refine, and deliver meaningful play experiences. Their voices have always been powerful tools for change. We are glad they also make for excellent trivia opponents.