A NEW APPROACH TO THE MEDICAL LANDSCAPE
Inspiration for CaringStay began back in 2021 when I spent time with my mum who lives in a spacious apartment in central Wellington. There, she has often hosted friends – or friends-of-friends – who’d been in hospital. They would stay for a few days until they were back on their feet.
It was really lovely to see this informal network of people looking out for each other. But, what about those who don’t have such connections?
I have a friend, a 34-year-old woman who broke her collarbone shortly after moving to a new city. She was living alone and had no local network to lean on. Recovering after being treated and discharged was a terrible struggle for her.
Additionally, we know how expensive life has become. Inflation has driven up costs everywhere and many people are finding it hard going.
That’s how CaringStay was born – a user-pays service through which retired homeowners open their homes to people recovering from surgery or illness. It’s a win-win situation: guests receive the short term care and comfort they need; hosts earn some extra income.
Take one of our wonderful hosts as an example. She’s a retired widow who lives alone in a large, well-maintained house. Through CaringStay, she has hosted several guests recovering from surgeries such as knee replacements.
Guests whose own homes weren’t suitable for recovery, gave her 5-star reviews for hospitality, great cooking, and comfortable accommodation. Meanwhile, she’s earned extra money, made new connections, and rediscovered a sense of purpose.
But we know not everyone wants or needs to stay with a host, so we’ve also created ‘CaringStay to You’. This service brings the same non-medical support to patients’ preferred location – whether that’s their home or elsewhere.
Our friendly assistants can help with tasks such as dog walking, light housekeeping, meal prep, grocery shopping, or simply providing company. We can arrange overnight stays if needed and everything is tailored to patients’ preferences. Their privacy is always respected.
There are many people who are eligible for home care support, especially those who require personal care, but there are others who do not qualify, or the help they receive is available for only a limited time.
Housework support is declining, and in some areas is not available at all. Dog walking, shopping, meal prep, or someone to sit with you while a spouse needs to get about can be just as essential for practicality and peace of mind.
CaringStay is still young and growing. We are looking for new hosts and guests, as well as those who could benefit from our CaringStay to You service. We also provide Temp-Cover for family carers who need to get away.
We’re grateful to Grey Power for helping spread the word. If you’d like to learn more, see advert below with all our details – and please share our story with friends and family.
