Digital matchmaking isn’t limited to the dating sphere. At least one health tech start-up, Papa, has been pairing older adults and younger caregivers since 2017, for both caregiving and socialization.
Recently, these “Papa Pals” have come under more scrutiny, and Papa Inc. announced last week that it was creating new security measures, including more thorough background checks, in light of concerns.
The company released a “Trust and Safety Roadmap” detailing how it plans to enhance safety protocols as a response to learning, like their peers in the home care and senior living industries, that any lag in best practices opens the door for bad acts to occur.
The Papa Pals assist older adults with routines such as shopping, transportation and other daily needs. The company partnered with Uber several years ago to help older adults in underserved communities get to medical appointments, McKnight’s Home Care previously reported.
The Papa group is on the hot seat after a recent report from Bloomberg News noted more than 1,200 confidential complaints about the service over the past four years, including theft and sexual assault.
The seriousness of the allegations prompted at least one legislator, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) to contact Papa Inc. for further explanation on what happened and what improvements are being implemented.
Although Papa representatives have insisted that the company’s background checks are sound and that its safety record is better than that of many home care providers, the company did update its background check process this year and plans to increase training and onboarding processes in the coming months, according to a published report.
“I’m deeply committed to protecting the safety of our members and Papa Pals as we build and refine a new model of care,” Papa CEO Andrew Parker said in a statement. “It’s important, and it’s personal.”
