Have you ever worried about who will look after you in later life? If the answer is ‘Yes’, then you are certainly not alone. A recent survey we commissioned has revealed that nearly three quarters (73%) of UK adults are worried about not having access to publicly funded care as they get older.
Our research also revealed that just 36% of people would be happy to care for an elderly relative. Unsurprisingly, combining these findings almost perfectly captures one of the main issues behind the care crisis in the UK—an urgent shortage of carers.
So how do we fix this?
Our journey is a personal one, having worked as consultant for the NHS for years trying to reduce bed blocking, it was easy to identify the real root of the problem—carers receiving appallingly low rates of pay.
This is what inspired me to found Curam and create a business model that uses technology to empower and support carers to work on a self-employed basis, so they can set their own rates, putting the power back in their hands. As a result, we have already accrued a community of over 8,000 carers and this number continues to grow on a daily basis.
Creating a business that primarily relies on technology in an industry that is not known for its tech-savviness was always going to be a gamble. However, in the five years since Curam’s inception, the results speak for themselves.
Interestingly, the same survey we conducted also revealed that 65% of people surveyed think it takes more than a week to hire a carer. However, we know firsthand that when someone needs care, time is of the essence.
This is why we have spent five years creating an app and a website that cuts out the requirement for admin staff and therefore delivers quicker turnaround times for people needing to hire carers.
To share a specific, recent example: a Direct Payment recipient signed up to Curam at 9am on a Sunday, shared his care needs with our community of carers, and by 1pm that day, had a carer starting work, looking after his mother.
We have also seen clients hire carers in as little as an hour, which demonstrates how our technology is an incredibly powerful tool for getting patients who are fit to go home, out of hospital safely and promptly. As a result, the person in receipt of care is also extremely likely to have a far better outcome being supported and cared for at home.
It would also be prudent to mention how this system benefits both the NHS and the health and social care sector. By giving patients an accessible path to care at home, this takes the strain off council and NHS budgets and increases hospital capacity and resource.
We’re committed to nurturing our growing community of carers and they remain at the heart of everything we do. This is why we provide our carers with free CPD training courses, technology to help keep them safe at work and free membership to the UK’s only professional carers association, the National Association of Carers and Support Workers.
However, this is just the beginning. We have so much more in our pipeline. We’re on the cusp of launching a host of new features on our app that will enhance the experience of both clients and carers who rely on us.
This includes a care plan function, which allows carers to record the care recipient’s health vitals and share them with the client’s family and GP where appropriate. We’re also working on functionality that will allow clients to engage with carers in real-time, to help make the process.
The path to restoring the care sector back to full health is long, which is why being part of the solution is crucial.
Jody O'Neill is CEO of Curam, the UK's largest online platform for care workers.
This article is sponsored by Curam.
