Australian based startup CareApp has recently raised over $500,000 in funding including $250,000 provided by the South Australian State Government to rapidly expand and scale up their smartphone app, which connects residents in aged care with their families. 

This government and private funding will enable CareApp to scale across more aged care facilities while social distancing rules are still in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CareApp provides a personalised and reassuring window into the care and wellbeing of loved ones, in a similar way to schools and childcare providers that have access to easy-to-use parental communication apps for keeping up to date. CareApp allows you to post notices, events and newsletters to keep families informed. It also allows you to instantly share images, send videos and just like Zoom or FaceTime, CareApp has live video chat, keeping everyone connected.

In March, CareApp announced free access for all aged care facilities until 30 September 2020.

During the lockdown, Australia’s elderly have been isolated from their family and friends.  Whilst, other states can now visit loved ones in aged care facilities, Victorians will be heavily relying on CareApp to keep updated with their family members in aged care facilities over the next five weeks.

Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CareApp, Allison Nikula said: “We were hopeful that the aged care community would view CareApp as the best way to keep families connected to their loved ones during this difficult time - but the uptake is something I couldn't have dreamt of." 

“The role of technology in aged care is not one around replacing care — it’s around enhancing connections, it highlights the power of belonging and magnifies the care that is being provided which provides peace of mind, particularly in times like now where families are not able to visit their loved ones.”

“Since our announcement of offering CareApp for free, we have secured new agreements with more than 200 aged care organisations representing over 150,000 seniors.” 

“Our recent growth has been exponential but more exciting is the fact that families who are placing their loved ones in care are reaching out to us to find out which of their local aged care providers use CareApp.”

“The funding will help us to support up to six additional staff within our Adelaide team, including developers and account managers to deliver the service to new customers.” 

Minister for Innovation and Skills, David Pisoni, commented: “The COVID-19 social distancing and self-isolation restrictions now in place for most aged care facilities means this app is a valuable solution for families unable to visit their loved ones, it has also presented an opportunity for CareApp to achieve accelerated growth and market penetration.” 

“CareApp recently publicly offered free access to its app and experienced an overwhelming response, with agreements from major aged care providers such as Uniting Care (Queensland), Bethanie (WA), Bene (SA), and Anglicare (NSW). 

“This rapid growth has been matched by a quick turnaround from the Marshall Government to ensure CareApp can deliver on this, with a further co-investment of $250,000 from CareApp from their existing private investors. 

CareApp is a nationally awarded and internationally recognised communication platform. In 2018 Allison Nikula won the Emerging Innovator category in the Women in Innovation Awards and in 2019 she was named in the Top 50 Australian Small Business Leaders.

More information on CareApp can be found on the company website at: www.careapp.com.au