Caring.com was founded by Andy Cohen, Steve Fram, and Jim Scott in 2007.[2] It was inspired by Cohen's experience of caring for his mother during her fatal lung cancer illness.[3][4] In the same year, it received $6 million in Series A funding from DCMand Split Rock Partners.[5][6]
In 2010, Caring.com introduced an online tool that provided guidance on Alzheimer's care, adjusting according to variations in patients' symptoms and behaviors as reported by their family caregiver.[7][8] In October 2009, it acquired Gilbert Guide, an online guide for senior housing, which it later folded into its directory and discontinued as a separate website.[3][9][10] In the same year, it received a $10 million Series B funding from various firms.[11] The following year, in 2010, it raised an additional $4 million from Intel Capital.[12][13]
In May 2014, Bankrate acquired Caring.com for $54 million.[4]
In January 2015, Caring.com acquired SeniorHomes.com.[14][15]
In 2017, Red Ventures acquired Bankrate, the owner of Caring.com at that time, and as a result, it divested its investment from Caring.com.[16][17]
In March 2020, Caring.com acquired SeniorAdvice.com, a website based in Austin, Texas.[20]
Throughout its history, Caring.com has conducted original market research and consumer surveys to release senior care and senior living reports, including its annual Wills & Estate Planning Study since 2015 and its annual Best States for Senior Living Report.[21][22][23]
Platform
Caring.com is an online platform that provides resources on aging and caregiving.[24][25] It also provides a caregiver resource center and search functions for finding assisted living and home care services,[24][26] with an online directory hosting consumer ratings and reviews about local service providers to support care seekers in their research.[27][28]
Caring.com generates revenue from multiple sources, including referral fees from senior housing and care providers and listing subscription fees.[4][1]
Caring Stars
Established in January 2012, the Caring Stars annual list is a compilation of the highest-rated senior living communities and senior care agencies across the U.S.[29][30] The selection process for this list involves specific reviews-based criteria, including a specific volume of published ratings and reviews from both residents and their relatives.[29][31] To finalize the Caring Stars list for each year, Caring.com's team also implements quality control measures, including conducting an integrity audit of consumer reviews and confirming the service provider's state licensure for care levels and states where required.[29][32]
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