Looking for a Caregiver? We've Got an App for That!

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Workplace Options, a global provider of work-life and employee support services, today unveiled iFindCare, the world's first mobile application to help individuals locate, reference and evaluate accredited child care and elder care providers. The application is available immediately in the iTunes Store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch and can be downloaded directly from iTunes by visiting itunes.apple.com.

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Developed to assist working caregivers on the go, the iFindCare app offers a GPS-enabled, location-based map that allows users to both locate and qualify options for care providers – including day cares, nannies, in-home care and senior living facilities – right from their fingertips. By entering a zip code, or using the phone's GPS location, users can easily identify providers and care resources within a 20 mile radius of their current location.

"One of the biggest challenges our customers face when trying to locate child or elder care is first, knowing where to look for affordable resources and viable care options, and then qualifying and comparing providers," said Dean Debnam, chief executive officer for Workplace Options. "This new app helps make the search and evaluation process easier by eliminating the hassle and stress of slogging through the Internet or directories to identify a care solution for what often are very unique situations."

A recent poll by Workplace Options explored the perceptions of caregivers in the workplace and found that workers could use a helping hand when it comes to juggling their caregiving responsibilities. According to the poll, 29 percent of the working population is currently responsible for the care of an aging adult, and 38 percent are the primary caregiver for a child. What's more, 16 percent are members of the "sandwich generation," making them the primary caregiver for a child while also providing care for an aging adult.

"Balancing work and caregiving responsibilities can be a real source of stress and anxiety for individuals – and even once you have found the right care solution, arrangements can fall through at the last minute," said Alan King, president and chief operating officer for Workplace Options. "The iFindCare app aims to alleviate stress by providing a dynamic resource for families when and where they need it. Because more and more people are on the go, it made perfect sense for us to make our dependent care solutions 'on the go' too."

In addition to functioning as a location device, the app offers an interactive checklist of qualifications to look for in providers as well as consumer safety tips and articles on caregiving. Using the checklist as a guide, users can fill out electronic fields for providers of interest and compare and share the information via email with family members or friends.

Workplace Options offers a variety of child and elder care resources, such as Advantage Geriatric Care Assist, Care Coach, Advantage Nanny Find and Back-Up Care Advantage. These services offer employees customized solutions to help them provide a safe and independent lifestyle for their parents or loved ones and dependable care for their children.

Through a partnership with Bright Horizons, Workplace Options' customers can access a national network of quality, licensed child and elder care centers and trained, licensed home health care professionals. Workplace Options also offers Back-Up Care Advantage, which provides a trusted resource for back-up dependent care. This highly customized program is designed for any type of emergency situation when employees' regular child care or adult/elder care arrangements are unavailable for any reason.

For more information about Workplace Options' services, please visit www.workplaceoptions.com.

About Workplace Options

Workplace Options helps employees balance their work, family and personal life in order to make their lives healthier, easier and more productive. The company's world-class employee support and work-life services provide information, resources, referrals and consultation on a variety of issues ranging from dependent care, legal and financial issues to stress management and wellness.

Drawing from an international network of credentialed providers and professionals, Workplace Options is the world's largest integrated employee support services and work-life provider. Service centers in Raleigh. N.C., London, Toronto and Dublin support more than 22 million employees in 16,000 organizations, across 153 countries. To learn more, visit www.workplaceoptions.com.

SOURCE Workplace Options