Pooja Patel, founder of Aging Together. (Credit: Sam Ring Photography)
She Supports Family Caregivers
Pooja Patel of Aging Together provides education and support services for family caregivers of aging parents.
Pooja Patel, an occupational therapist who is board-certified in gerontology, has worked on the frontlines of hospitals for nearly a decade. A gap she repeatedly saw was the lack of community-level awareness, knowledge and support for families when their loved ones are in the hospital. Patel, who also has certifications in dementia care and fall prevention, witnessed firsthand how patient’s families are confronted with an onslaught of information – and how important decisions often need to be made under intense pressure. She decided she wanted to find a way to empower these families. In 2023, the Chicago-based Patel launched Aging Together, an online platform with resources for caregivers to help families navigate the complexities of aging and the American healthcare system.
Editor’s Note: Aging Together has been named to The Story Exchange’s 2025 list of 10 Brilliant Business Ideas.
How is your business different from others in your industry?
We are not a care-management or care-coordination practice. We are purely educational, and supportive.
Tell us about your biggest success so far.
Building this practice from the ground up while pivoting three times to get to where we are today. We just launched our very first online 8-week education and support program for family caregivers and have 10 participants. After the first session, one participant said, “I’ve joined many groups like these, and this is the first one that hasn’t made me cry. They’re all so doom and gloom. Thank you so much for building and offering this.”
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Marketing. We’re working on it and slowly improving with networking and an increased online presence.
Have you experienced any significant personal situations that have affected your business decisions?
Having endured Covid-19 on the frontlines of a large urban trauma center for over a year, I feel I’ve developed the resilience and ability to separate personal versus business needs. I’ve also been told that I’m very good at remaining practical under high-stress situations. I’m the person who runs the show during an emergency.
What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs?
Your first idea is most likely not going to be what you actually end up building. I spent so much time trying to figure everything out before starting the practice, only to realize it’s not what I really wanted. Be curious. Learn the art of the pivot.
How do you find inspiration on your darkest days?
I look to the many family caregivers I interact with on an almost daily basis. I look to my husband, who is a serial entrepreneur and has bootstrapped, grown and sold a number of businesses in the cybersecurity and AI space. He has had many dark moments, which I’ve experienced with him. This reassures me that there’s light on the other side
What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days?
I love Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry.
Who is your most important role model?
My parents. ◾
Instagram: @agingtogetherpodcast
Facebook: @agingtogetherpodcast
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