Tech Startups Tackling Loneliness Among Seniors

A growing number of health technology startups are drawing venture capital with their efforts to combat senior loneliness, reports FierceHealthcare . One startup in Miami, Papa, was founded by Andrew Parker to tackle this problem with a "grandkids on demand" service, which matches aging seniors with college students. The California-based Mon Ami startup, which offers a similar service, recently announced a $3.4 million seed financing round. "I saw a huge opportunity to improve the way that we age, to bring more vibrancy, delight, and joy and the small things that make life worth living back into the aging and caregiving industry," said Mon Ami co-founder Joy Zhang. Such firms provide face-to-face engagement, while others are utilizing technology such as voice-enabled devices to address senior loneliness. Papa will use the proceeds from its financing to offer its services to a wider population of older adults through alliances with more insurance plans and employee benefit providers. Next year, it plans to broaden its service footprint to 25 states. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has amended rules to allow services like Papa to be covered by Medicare Advantage plans. "We are now mainly going through large health plans, health systems, and employers as a benefit," Parker noted.