NJ Start-Up, eCaregivers.com, Brings Hope to Seniors Struggling to Pay for Care
BLOOMFIELD, N.J., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 70% of Americans 65 and over will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime, but most are unprepared for the high cost—with only 35% of Americans over 40 saving money for long-term care expenses. Long-term care services, paid for out-of-pocket if you don't qualify for Medicaid, include assistance with essential daily activities like bathing, dressing, and making meals. New Jersey seniors hiring a full-time caregiver through a home care agency can expect to pay on average $48,506 per year—a daunting expense considering the average 50 year old has $42,797 in retirement savings. The rising senior population will bring an unprecedented need for affordable long-term care services, which many seniors struggle to find.
Those unable to afford care through an agency may go without care, rely on unpaid family caregivers, or hire a caregiver without the help of an agency. Rachel Kenselaar, founder of eCaregivers.com, has a vision to make long-term care affordable for all seniors. eCaregivers.com connects families directly with background-checked caregivers offering a safer alternative to finding a caregiver through the classifieds and a more affordable option than using a home care agency. Caregivers' rates on the site vary, starting from $10 per hour, a considerable savings compared to the $21 per hour average rate of a home care agency in New Jersey. Kenselaar, an MBA student who worked in home health care for five years, felt compelled to start eCaregivers.com after seeing the threat of new, stricter regulations cause home care agencies to raise prices.
Families using the website search for a caregiver based on their skills, availability, and pay rate to find the caregiver who fits their needs. They can send a private message to their favorite caregivers to arrange an interview—something that agencies rarely allow—and determine who is best qualified to take care of their loved one. Giving families the power of choice, eCaregivers offers an innovative alternative to home health care agencies and burgeoning costs of senior care--helping seniors save as much as 50% on in-home care.
Since launching in New Jersey, eCaregivers has had an overwhelming response from caregivers eager to join the site. Kenselaar believes eCaregivers.com's free market approach benefits caregivers as much as it benefits seniors. Caregivers who join the site set their pay rate and available work hours—giving them the opportunity to earn higher wages and have greater flexibility in their schedule. Families can find part-time, full-time and live-in caregivers throughout New Jersey on the site—with caregivers' experience level ranging from one year to over 20 years. eCaregivers.com hopes to expand nationally by the end of 2016 and help seniors around the US find affordable in-home care.
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SOURCE eCaregivers.com
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