An official website of the United States government
People with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and their loved ones have few options to manage symptoms and costs related to cognitive decline. Pharmaceuticals offer limited benefits with significant side effects, and targeted possibilities such as games and support groups address only individual domains of a complex and interwoven set of challenges.
Together offers the only comprehensive digital therapeutic intervention, Moving Together, that helps people with dementia to maintain physical and cognitive function and remain independent at home as long as possible. The company’s livestreaming group-based program combines recent advances in neuroscience, movement, mindfulness, and social connection. Participants and caregivers experience reduced isolation, as well as improvements in function and quality of life, and enjoy spending time together. Initial pilot studies show an effect on physical and cognitive function two to three times that of best-in-class drugs, as well as high levels of satisfaction and engagement.
Nearly 6 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia; although this population represents 10% of older adults, they account for 40% of healthcare costs. Moving Together will reduce healthcare costs related to falls, hospitalization, and social isolation and will extend the period of independence and aging at home.
Together’s focus on integrating evidence-based approaches and the company’s commitment to respecting everyone’s cognitive abilities provides synergistic outcomes across physical, social, and cognitive domains and set Together apart from the vast array of single-point services. Moving Together is based on more than a decade of research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and combines the best of in-person group-based integrative health programs with technology innovation designed specifically so that people with dementia and their caregivers can participate from home.
Company Milestones
Scientific
- 2011–present: Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise (PLIÉ) and Paired PLIÉ in-person group-based programs were developed at UCSF and VA by Deborah Barnes, Ph.D., M.P.H., and team.
- 2018–2019: Together Senior Health was formed and received an SBIR Phase I grant for proof of concept of the Moving Together online program, demonstrating 76% adherence and 96% satisfaction.
- 2020: An SBIR Phase II grant was received for outcomes research relating to the company’s Moving Together online program for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and their caregivers. Specific outcomes being studied include quality of life, mobility, cognitive function, and social isolation for people with dementia and caregiver burden, social isolation, and self-efficacy for caregivers. Study completion is expected in July 2022.
- 2021: A second SBIR Phase II grant was submitted to study outcomes for the company’s new Brain Health Together program, which adapts Moving Together for people with earlier-stage cognitive decline and adds risk reduction–focused health coaching to delay symptoms of dementia. Funds are pending.
Business
- 2017: Together Senior Health was formed to commercialize the PLIÉ and Paired PLIÉ programs and scale this innovative therapeutic intervention.
- 2020: The first commercial pilots were signed with a home health agency. Pilot outcomes being studied are engagement and retention.
- 2021: Additional commercial pilots begin with Medicare Advantage Plans. The first contract with a national brand is currently pending.
- 2021: First private funding is anticipated.
- 2023: Break-even is expected.
Financial Overview
Together Senior Health has, to date, raised $3 million in SBIR grants through NIA funding. The company is seeking $3.7 million in private funds, and a $2.5 million SBIR grant is in process and pending. Together anticipates raising Series A funds in 18 to 24 months to fund commercial scaling and expand platform development.
Intellectual Property
Together has an exclusive global license from UCSF for rights to the PLIÉ and Paired PLIÉ programs. In addition, the company is currently exploring intellectual property options for its unique platform and interface designed specifically to minimize cognitive load for participants.
Product Development and Regulatory Strategy
Moving Together is the company’s initial program for people with mild to moderate dementia. Together Senior Health is beginning to add other evidence-based programs, resources, and classes to its platform for this segment, along with targeted support for caregivers; the company is also expanding to serve people with earlier-stage cognitive decline in the next 12 to 18 months.
Commercialization Strategy
Together’s primary go-to-market strategy targets Medicare Advantage Plans, with a value proposition that saves on healthcare costs for their members and increases retention and quality scores. The company works together with Medicare Advantage Plans to identify and reach members who would benefit from Together’s program. For a monthly fee covered by their plan, members can participate as long as they like, accessing Moving Together and other resources and classes.
Home health agencies are using Together’s programs to expand their services, providing Moving Together to clients with dementia within the scope of their premium services and leveraging Together’s engaging program for both early client retention and extension of home-based contracts.
Company Details
Together Senior Health website
San Francisco, CA
Industry: Digital Health and Sensing Technologies
Management Team:
- Chief Executive Officer: Cynthia Benjamin, M.B.A., M.S.
- Vice President, Sales and Marketing: Ben Wilson, M.B.A., M.P.H.
- Chief Technology Officer: Steve Tomas, M.S.
Point of Contact:
Cynthia Benjamin
(650) 906-6032