Startups Confront Senior Care Crisis
Senior care startups are scaling.
The latest: Tuesday Health added $60M and launched its palliative care services in partnership with Valtruis, Blue Venture Fund, Mass General Brigham Ventures, and CareSource.
Relieving symptoms and stress, the company guides patients through the transition from Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial insurance to hospice care.
Why it matters: The number of aging Americans with serious illnesses is growing, and the current healthcare system isn’t equipped to handle it.
Research suggests access to specialized providers makes a difference, but <1% of US physicians are certified in geriatrics.
Scaling empathetic support for seniors, startups hope to ease the burden on patients, families, and the broader healthcare system.
- Combating loneliness through primary care, Gather Health recently raised $16M.
- Building Airbnb-style nursing homes, Homecare Hub secured $2.5M last September.
- Tackling mental health, Talkspace expanded into the Medicare market this month.
Meanwhile, 60% of older adults are swapping traditional doctors’ offices for walk-in centers, leading Kroger to partner with Better Health Group for in-store senior clinics.
Punchline: Facing an aging population, healthcare will have to adapt and invent resources to avoid a crisis. No longer an afterthought, seniors need systems designed specifically for them.
