From Caregiver to Creator: How a Childhood Moment Became a Global Alzheimer’s Initiative

When I was four years old, I sat beside my grandmother solving puzzles, one of the few activities that still brought her joy as Alzheimer’s changed her world. In those moments, I saw something I would only later understand. Even as memory faded, connection remained. I became involved in Puzzles to Remember and grew into the role of CEO, expanding its reach to thousands of memory care communities, globally. Through this work, I focused on how simple tools like puzzles can support emotional engagement and dignity in Alzheimer’s care. Now, that journey has come full circle.

Springbok Puzzles,collaborated with us to further develop and share our vision. The photo on the packaging is of me at age four with my grandmother, doing exactly what started it all. This experience reminded me that innovation is not always about starting something new. It is about recognizing what works, building on it, and bringing it to more people. And for me, it all started with a puzzle, and the love I had for my grandma.