Tag Archives: companionship for seniors

Papa and Aetna Announce Collaboration in Florida for Medicare Advantage Members

MIAMI, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Papa Inc., a leading provider for seniors and Medicare Advantage Members announced today its collaboration with Aetna, a CVS Health company. Papa connects local college students, known as "Papa Pals," to older adults who need help with companionship, house chores and technology lessons. Certain Medicare Advantage members who live in Florida and have one or more chronic conditions will be eligible to receive assistance with Papa Pals starting January 1, 2020.

"Loneliness and social isolation have many negative effects on older adults, including issues associated with the lack of transportation," said Founder and CEO Andrew Parker. "We are excited to work with Aetna in areas of Florida to help more seniors with companionship. We are happy to continue our journey combatting the loneliness epidemic with Aetna."

A recent AARP study found that there is a 26 percent increased risk of early death due to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. As health declines, it is more common for seniors to experience increased symptoms. AARP also found that 46 percent of women ages 75 or older live alone (*see note 1). Another study by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) found that loneliness is more dangerous than obesity and is as hurtful to the body as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (*see note 2).

Companies like Papa and Aetna make a difference in helping aging seniors by providing necessary options for them to stay a part of a community and alleviate social isolation and loneliness.

"Social isolation is a crisis, especially among seniors," noted Dr. Robert Mirsky, Chief Medical Officer for Aetna Medicare. "We want to make sure they remain connected to their communities and have a sense of purpose and belonging in their lives, and a sense they are continuing to contribute to society. Papa Pals are a great way to help seniors do this."

Sources:
*NOTE 1: https://connect2affect.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AARP-740C-Loneliness-Report-v3-with-LOGO-TAG.pdf
*NOTE 2: https://www.hrsa.gov/enews/past-issues/2019/january-17/loneliness-epidemic

About Papa

Papa is a Miami startup that has Grandkids On-Demand who provide assistance and companionship to senior citizens throughout Florida, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Illinois, and Kansas. Papa launched their service in January of 2018.

For more information, visit https://www.joinpapa.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/join_papa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinpapa/

About Aetna

Aetna, a CVS Health company, serves an estimated 38 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit https://www.aetna.com/ and explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews

Aetna Medicare is a HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area.

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-1105s2p-papa-logo-300dpi.jpg

Papa Inc., a leading provider for seniors and Medicare Advantage Members announced today its collaboration with Aetna, a CVS Health company. Papa connects local college students, known as "Papa Pals," to older adults who need help with companionship, house chores and technology lessons.

Related link: https://www.joinpapa.com/

Papa and HomeThrive Strategically Partner to Better Support Loved Ones Aging in Place

MIAMI, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Papa Inc., a nationwide provider of services for seniors and caregivers announced today its newest partnership with HomeThrive. The launch will begin November 11, 2019 in Illinois, Michigan and Florida where Papa Pals will work with HomeThrive and their clients to provide Papa's companionship and in-home support services to improve the health of loved ones currently aging in place and living independently.

With over 34 million people serving as unpaid caregivers to adults over the age of 50, demand has steadily increased for solutions that both enable loved ones to live independently at home and make it easier for family caregivers to support them. HomeThrive and Papa are combining efforts to offer a comprehensive care service, provided as an employer or payor benefit, that integrates Papa's innovative "grandkids on-demand" capabilities with the expert coaching and personal assistance services delivered by HomeThrive CareGuides, who are master's level- social workers assigned support to the entire family.

A recent study in 2018 from the Home and Community Preferences survey shows that almost 80% of adults age 50 and older want to remain in their communities and/or homes as they age (*see Note 1). People who prefer to age at home want to stay around their friends and community. If someone has a strong commitment to their environment, they have stronger reasons to want to live at home.

"Older adults want to age in place. We are excited to partner with HomeThrive to support them and their clients and help loved ones thrive at home," said Papa Founder and CEO Andrew Parker. "Our Papa Pals provide amazing companionship and support members with transportation to improve their lives. We look forward to expanding our services with HomeThrive."

Aging adults also want to stay in their homes because they want to maintain their independence. Papa Pals are able to help them live independently while helping them with everyday tasks in and out of their homes. Seniors have the capability to have assistance when and where they need it.

"We are thrilled to partner with Papa and support more aging adults in their homes," said Leland Brewster, VP of Product and Business Development at HomeThrive. "Families who aren't able to have a live-in caregiver can now have peace of mind knowing that vetted and qualified Papa Pals will be able to assist their loved ones and help them stay engaged and healthy at home."

About Papa

Papa is a Miami startup that has Grandkids On-Demand who provide assistance and companionship to senior citizens throughout Florida, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Illinois, and Kansas. Papa launched their service in January of 2018. For more information, visit https://www.joinpapa.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/join_papa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinpapa/

About HomeThrive

HomeThrive provides non-medical care management and personal assistance services to help aging loved ones thrive at home with dignity and purpose. HomeThrive matches each client and their family with one of its dedicated masters level social workers who begins by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of home safety, health, and well-being to inform a personalized care plan. The same social worker develops a trusted relationship with the senior and provides ongoing expert coaching to embrace healthy behaviors and identifies, recommends, and coordinates any necessary third party services to provide meals, transportation, home care, medication delivery or other essential offerings. To learn more, visit https://www.homethrive.com

(*Note 1: https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/community/info-2018/2018-home-community-preference.html )

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-1105s2p-papa-logo-300dpi.jpg

Papa Inc., a nationwide provider of services for seniors and caregivers announced today its newest partnership with HomeThrive. The launch will begin November 11, 2019 in Illinois, Michigan and Florida where Papa Pals will work with HomeThrive and their clients to provide Papa's companionship and in-home support services.

Related link: https://www.joinpapa.com/

Papa Continues to Expand Across Florida to Stop the Loneliness Epidemic

ORLANDO, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- As of August 2018, Papa expands to the Orlando and Jacksonville markets to assist seniors and elders with transportation, household chores, and technology. Papa's mission to cure loneliness for seniors is aligned with their goals to bring on energetic college students who aspire to bridge the generational gap and give companionship to senior citizens. There are no signs of stopping the growth as they are currently in 11 cities throughout Florida.

Because of their expansion to the Orlando and Jacksonville markets, Papa will be recruiting qualified candidates at University Central Florida, Rollins College, Full Sail University, Valencia College, Seminole State College, University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Edward Waters College, and Chamberlain College of Nursing in the upcoming weeks.

"I am excited to say that we are on track expanding Papa throughout the state of Florida by the end of year," says CEO and Founder Andrew Parker. "We have realized that loneliness in America is an epidemic not many people are talking about. As the life expectancy keeps increasing we are also finding more people with the feelings of isolation and desolation. Our Papa Pals are well-trained companions and we listen to our members' feedback to keep improving for them."

He adds, "Through our data we noticed that a first visit may last an hour or two, but recurring users of Papa show longer visits up to 10 hours. This shows us that we are on our way to curing senior's loneliness while two generations connect through board games, technology, daily errands or doctors' visits."

COO, Alfredo Vaasmonde says, "We are seeing great growth. As we notice more demand is needed in different markets we strategically get after it and make it happen. We are excited to help seniors in these areas and make a difference."

More than 40 percent of seniors experience loneliness on a regular basis, according to a recent University of California, San Francisco study and more than half of these respondents said they would like providers to connect them to people or activities in their community to help them stay healthy (*see note 1). In an AARP study it stated that loneliness is also linked to health issues and can lead to death (*see note 2). Papa has been listening to these studies and is taking action to prevent these issues and show seniors that no matter their age they can still participate in activities and feel accepted.

Cited Information:

Note 1: Perissinotto, C. M. (2012, July 23). Loneliness in Older PersonsA Predictor of Functional Decline and Death. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1188033
Note 2: Anderson, G. Oscar. Loneliness Among Older Adults: A National Survey of Adults 45+. Washington, DC: AARP Research, September 2010. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00064.001

About Papa:

Papa, Inc. is a Miami based startup that opened late 2017. Papa provides assistance to its senior members throughout South Florida, Sarasota, Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples, Jacksonville and Orlando. Papa plans to expand to 4 different states at the beginning of next year.

URL: https://www.joinpapa.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/join_papa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinpapa/
Download App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/join-papa/id1105425605?mt=8
Instagram: @join_papa

As of August 2018, Papa Inc. expands to the Orlando and Jacksonville markets to assist seniors and elders with transportation, household chores, and technology. Papa's mission to cure loneliness for seniors is aligned with their goals to bring on energetic college students who aspire to bridge the generational gap and give companionship to senior citizens.

Related link: https://www.joinpapa.com/