A Fresh Twist on Caregiving

Peter Mangan noticed his father’s enjoyment of and involvement with the tourists he hosted at his home in County Kerry, Ireland. His dad gave guests sightseeing tours, shared meals with them, and developed positive new relationships.

The experience opened the younger Mangan’s eyes to the possibility of matching senior hosts and guests with similar interests — and The Freebird Club was born.

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The club, which started in Ireland for visitors traveling north from London, combined the Airbnb idea with the lifestyle matching of a dating site to serve the senior population. It recently opened enrollment beyond the United Kingdom — and availability has spread rapidly to 21 countries.

The club claims excellent security and verifies the identity of all its members. The key is sharing experiences, which offsets the loneliness and isolation seniors can feel when their children have moved off into their own lives, or their spouses or partners have passed away.

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Guests receive more “presence” and attention from their hosts, and can benefit from their experience and knowledge of the area they are visiting. The original Airbnb site says their hosts age 60 and up receive 7.5 percent more five-star ratings than hosts in other age brackets.

Matching Seniors with Short-Term Care Needs
Seniorly, which specializes in various levels of care services for California residents, recognized the need for short-term care for seniors. The programs aim to give caregivers of aging parents a break for stress relief.

Some caregivers need a day off during the week, and some need a vacation, without worrying about whether their older relative is still getting the care or engagement they need. Seniorly guarantees that the offerings on its website meet the necessary health and safety standards for certain levels of care. There are even those willing to host guests with memory issues.

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The organization also offers a number of assisted living facilities for those needing medical care or those who cannot care for themselves. These facilities offer laundry, prepared meals, and activities.

Another growing facet of elder care is respite care, which is a bit like babysitting for a few hours. It provides time off for the primary caregiver, and a change of scene for the guest. Caregivers can match their loved one with a respite care provider who enjoys a game of chess, for example — providing a social context, too.

Beyond Traditional Nursing Home Care
Alixandra Foisy, a retirement transition specialist at Agefully in Blacksburg, Virginia, encourages her clients to think of alternatives to getting their needs met.

“Many love their homes and don’t want to leave,” she told LifeZette. “Some can take on a renter if they have a spare room. They could find a quiet college or university student who is in need of a low-cost apartment who might be willing to do things like shovel the driveway, handle housework, or do light meal prep in return for a low-cost living arrangement. Others might feel comfortable with having a grandchild live with them.”

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Room2Care, now operating in both Florida and Arizona, is billed as a safe and affordable alternative for seniors who cannot afford the average cost of traditional care. That expense can run anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 a month.

Unemployed or underemployed caregivers with a spare room, the ability and inclination to allow a senior to move into their home and provide them with care can list their home and earn income doing so.  

All parties, the seniors and the caregivers, are thoroughly screened. Co-founders Dr. Todd Florin and Rich Ashenoff II say the average monthly charge is about half the cost of traditional options.

Related: The Health Insurance Costs Threatening Our Seniors

“We have been amazed with how many trained caregivers throughout Florida and Arizona are opening their homes,” Ashenoff told LifeZette. “We like to say that we bring the community back into caring for our seniors. Aside from the general aging population, and the fact that our government assists the very poor while the wealthy have the means to pay, middle America is being ignored. The incidence of ‘elder orphans’ is increasing and it is our responsibility to provide them with financially feasible options. We felt that senior living and care was a perfect fit for a sharing economy solution.”

Pat Barone, MCC, is a professional credentialed coach and author of the Own Every Bite! bodycentric re-education program for mindful and intuitive eating, who helps clients heal food addictions.