We had the good fortune of connecting with Paula Muller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paula, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I started my company because I recognized an unmet need that I wanted to solve. Growing up in Chile, I was very close to my grandmother and my family, and after 25 years of living far away, the relationship remains very strong. For that reason, family relations and lifetime connections are precious to me.

As I reflect on my grandmother’s life, she was part of a generation that did not grow up with computers, smartphones, or social media. This has been a rather recent phenomenon that has distanced many older adults, while the rest of us easily exchange photos, videos, and even video calls. Therefore, bridging that gap became my company’s mission, and I named my company Sociavi, which in Latin means “share” and “unite” to reflect that purpose.

Moreover, as I learned about the senior living space, I noticed how prevalent Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are among our elders, and I decided to dedicate my attention to assisting them and their families through my company’s work and my volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association.

Therefore, our focus at Sociavi is simplicity so that even persons living with dementia can benefit from our products, fulfilling their needs for companionship and engagement.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sociavi, Latin word for “share” and “unite”, represents the mission of my company. I want to remove the barriers that mainstream technology presents for many older adults and people with disabilities, and promote connection and engagement, so they can “share moments” and be “united” with their loved ones, even across long distances.

Our products serve those aging, physically challenged, and cognitively impaired including Alzheimer’s and other dementias, they promote engagement, and meaningful connections, avoiding social isolation and loneliness. Our mission is to provide the simplest way to maintain communication and companionship even when they may have lost the ability to actively reach out by themselves, giving peace of mind to those that care for them.

This is a mission of compassion to support some of the multiple challenges of caregiving.

Getting to this point has not been easy, but what keeps me going is seeing older adults using my products with ease and enjoyment, even when they live with dementia. Also hearing the contentment from their families when they can connect with their aging loved ones and extend their reach of attention, makes me feel that I’m accomplishing my mission. Many of them have pursued other products and Sociavi has been the only solution for them.

I have many stories that pump my heart.

I would like that the world learns about the mission of my company and supports me to continue helping families that are looking for solutions like mine and do not know about it. I would like that the world embraces my vision of using technology as a tool for social interventions and more meaningful interactions with older adults.

How does your product impact your community and larger market?
Many adult children around the world, caring for older parents and relatives worry about their health, well-being, and safety. They want to extend their interaction and oversight when they cannot be present, but in many cases, mainstream technology is not suited for their loved ones causing frustration and anxiety.
There is a real and increasing need for connection between care recipients and caregivers.
Our platform can offer them peace of mind and resources to manage the multiple challenges of caregiving. Caregivers at any time and from anywhere are able to stay in touch with their loved ones and check on their well-being. With this, they are capable to identify issues before they become more serious and therefore react promptly. Altogether, caregivers will feel more at ease and with more control. Aging parents and relatives, who are being cared for, will feel connected and engaged without frustration.
We provide the older adult with a dedicated device, the Sociavi C2M (Connect To Me), which is always on and ready to be used, while the families install an app on their smartphones, the Sociavi Companion App.
In addition, our Sociavi C2M includes cognitive exercises and activities known as the Sociavi Brain Fitness Programs accessible directly from the Sociavi C2M touch screen.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My small town Keyport in NJ would definitely be a place to start. One day we will have lunch at Mike Sub and on another, we will have fish and chips from Keyport Fishery. We would walk along the boardwalk and through the town streets admiring the old colonial houses.

In our neighborhood, we would suggest visiting one of our local wineries like 4JG Orchards & Vineyards.
We would visit other local landmarks like the Holmdel Horn Antenna, the Twin Lights State Historic Site, and Sandy Hook.

Since we are so close to Manhattan, we will spend a day in New York City and take the ferry from one of the neighboring towns like Belford, Highland, or Atlantic Highland.

A lot of fun and interesting things to do in the area with plenty of local restaurants along the shore.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many persons that deserve credit because without their support and encouragement I wouldn’t have reached this point in my life. I want to highlight the following people:
– My grandmother for her inspiration, as a role model of hard work, honesty, attention to helping others, and love for her family.
– My mother for reinforcing these qualities observed in my grandmother and for her continuous encouragement to pursue my goals.
– My husband for his continuous and unconditional support.
There are also mentors and colleagues that have uplifted me along the way with their help, advice, and friendship.

Website: https://www.sociavi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sociavi_to_share_and_unite

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sociavi

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sociavi1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sociavic2m

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