CareFamily Offers First Online Matching Service for Senior Home Care in Virginia and D.C.

FOR: CAREFAMILY

MAY 8, 2012 - 07:00 ET

Within Minutes Families Are Connected With Screened, Qualified, and Bonded Caregivers in Their Area

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA--(Marketwire - May 8, 2012) - CareFamily, a pioneer in virtual senior home care, today announced the first online matching service that enables families to quickly connect with qualified and bonded caregivers in the Virginia and D.C. areas. This unique service is more affordable than home care agencies and safer than using online list services to find caregivers. Families have the benefit of hiring and working directly with caregivers to develop personalized home care plans, which can be managed virtually at CareFamily.com.

"The need for senior home care is growing dramatically, but families have limited options," said Tom Knox, CEO and founder of CareFamily. "I've spent the past decade building a senior care agency and have seen a growing number of families who can't afford the cost of an agency turn to classified ads or online list services, which do not offer families any protection -- such as background checks, bonding and workers' compensation insurance. CareFamily gives families a simple way to find and employ qualified and pre-screened caregivers while saving up to 40 percent of the cost of an agency."

People are living longer. According to the U.S. Census -- by 2030 nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population will be 65 years and older. The overwhelming majority of seniors, 89 percent according to an AARP survey, prefer to stay in their own homes rather than move to an assisted living facility or nursing home. But studies also show that after age 65, Americans have a 70 percent chance of needing help with daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, etc. (Source: American Society on Aging)

"I understand the stress and frustration of trying to find qualified senior care," added Knox. "My grandmother was neglected in a care facility and I watched the stress my mother endured as her caregiver when they moved my grandmother home. This experience inspired me to start CareFamily."

"When my father-in-law was discharged from the hospital, we were desperate to find quality help fast to assist with his care," said Jim Kuykendall, CareFamily client. "We had exhausted our insurance and hospital options, and were disappointed with the high cost and limited services the agencies we contacted were willing to provide. With CareFamily, we were able to work directly with our caregiver to come up with a care plan that was specifically tailored to our needs. I really couldn't be happier."

CareFamily is the first online matching service for the senior home care industry. After completing a short questionnaire at www.carefamily.com, care-seekers are matched with caregivers based on skills, needs, location and other pertinent criteria.

Online Matching Service

• Caregiver pre-screening and background check
• Caregiver bonding and workers' compensation insurance
• Online ranking and matching based on a proprietary algorithm
• Caregiver profiles, including hourly wage contact information

Virtual Home Care Management Tools

• Weekly payments to caregivers, wage reports and associated tax advice
• Senior care and medication risk assessments
• Online care plan and health record for caregivers, family members and medical providers
• Daily online care updates
• Virtual caregiver attendance monitoring
• Phone or text medication and appointment reminders
• Back-up care support

Personal Care Coordinator

• Assigned to each family at no additional cost
• Available to narrow down matches and set up interviews
• Available by phone to assist in every step of the process

Caregivers desiring to take control of their own careers and work with families directly can register with CareFamily for free. All caregivers must submit to a background screening, which is provided and paid for by CareFamily. Qualified caregivers are bonded and insured before their profiles are posted on CareFamily. Caregiver profiles include the caregiver's employment history, skills, certifications, references, photo and rate of pay.

"CareFamily lets me do what I do best, take care of people," said Merry Williamson, CareFamily caregiver. "There was no start-up fee and unlike agencies, I get the benefit of interviewing with my clients to discuss their needs and ensure we are compatible 'before' going into their homes. My relationship with my clients is so much more personal with CareFamily, and my schedule is worked out directly with them."

How it Works

Families seeking care simply go to: www.carefamily.com and click on 'Find Caregivers.' After completing a short online questionnaire, they are instantly given up to the five best caregiver matches. The care-seeker can then either contact the matched caregivers to set up an interview or search for additional caregivers in their area. There is no fee for the online matching service; care-seeking families pay only the published hourly rate on the caregiver's profile.

About CareFamily

CareFamily, a pioneer in virtual senior home care, offers families a safe, personalized and more affordable way to find qualified caregivers and take care of aging loved ones. The company's unique online matching service instantly connects families with pre-screened, qualified and bonded caregivers in their geographic area. CareFamily Virtual Home Care Management Tools empower families to effectively oversee care without the need to be there every day. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, CareFamily combines the best practices of a traditional home care agency with the ease and convenience of the internet. For more information visit www.carefamily.com.

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Renee Newby
Newby Public Relations
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