Caring.com

Caring.com is a website and senior care resources company, owned by Bankrate (NYSE: RATE) and headquartered in San Mateo, California.

The site draws about three million visitors each month and provides caregiving-related information and support, including more than 3,000 articles and answers to common senior care questions from professionals in the caregiving, financial, legal and medical fields. The company uses these reviews to publish an annual list of top-rated assisted living and memory care communities.^[1]

History

Caring.com was founded in 2007 by Andy Cohen, Steven Fram, and Jim Scott. The three co-founders decided to start the business after their own experiences caring for aging loved ones. While providing long-distance care for his mother, who later died from lung cancer, Cohen found it difficult to find information online to help him through the many caregiving challenges he encountered.^[2]

He realized that many others would face similar challenges as the population aged, and recognized the significant business opportunity that the senior care market presented. Cohen recruited Fram and Scott to join him to create a company that would provide resources and guidance to family caregivers of aging adults.^[3]

Acquisitions and partnerships

In 2009, Caring.com acquired Gilbert Guide, an online senior housing guide, in-home care directory, and resource for caregivers, adults and families with aging relatives. Under the acquisition, Caring.com users were able to access Gilbert Guide’s directory and housing guide through the website, including consumer reviews of local senior living communities.^[4]

In May 2014, Caring.com was acquired by Bankrate, Inc. and joined the corporation’s network of websites, which includes Bankrate.com and CreditCards.com. Caring.com remained an independent website.^[5] Caring.com acquired Seattle-based SeniorHomes.com in January 2015. The two brands share back-end operations, such as call centers, but still operate under their own names.^[6]

References