In a time where quality eldercare is both crucial and increasingly difficult to find, CareYaya emerges as a beacon of innovation.
This groundbreaking business is transforming the caregiving landscape by connecting pre-health college students with families needing care for their loved ones, both locally in the Ann Arbor area and nationwide.
To gain deeper insights into this unique approach, we spoke with Nirvana Mansour Hosseini Tari, the Director of Social Determinants of Health and Community Partnerships at CareYaya.
“At its core, CareYaya is a technology-enabled caregiving platform that uses algorithms to match pre-health college students to families based on schedules and specific care needs,” Tari explained. “Our caregivers, whom we affectionately call ‘joy givers’, are all undergraduate students pursuing health-related careers such as pre-med, nursing, or pre-physician assistant programs. We like to think of them as the doctors and nurses of tomorrow, gaining invaluable hands-on experience while providing compassionate care.”
In Michigan, CareYaya currently partners with the University of Michigan, with plans to expand to other universities as the program grows. The service area covers a 40-minute drive radius from the university, including cities like Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, Whitmore Lake, Ypsilanti, Canton, Livonia, Northville and Plymouth.
CareYaya extends far beyond Michigan. The organization recruits students from some of the nation’s top universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Duke, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Columbia University, Tufts, University of California Berkeley, Emory, Ohio State University, Georgetown, College of Charleston, University of Texas Austin, and Arizona State University.
“While our national footprint is growing, our focus in Michigan remains centered around Ann Arbor,” Tari noted. “All our student caregivers in this area attend the University of Michigan. We’ve even had the privilege of providing care for a professor emeritus from UMich!”
CareYaya’s impact in Michigan has not gone unnoticed. The organization is listed as a resource for members of the Michigan Alzheimer’s Association and University of Michigan Geriatrics social workers and nurses actively refer patients to CareYaya. They’ve also participated in community initiatives, such as hosting digital health literacy sessions at the Northfield Township Community Senior Center in Whitmore Lake.
The innovative approach of CareYaya addresses a critical issue in healthcare — the growing caregiver shortage.
“We’re able to offer caregiving services at a fraction of the cost of traditional agencies,” Tari explained. “This helps expand the care workforce while making quality care more accessible to families.”
CareYaya’s vision extends beyond just providing care. They are launching new applications of artificial intelligence and neurotechnology to help people better understand and manage caregiving, aging, and serious illness.
The organization’s mission is deeply rooted in empowerment. “We aim to empower family caregivers — those caring for an elderly parent, a seriously ill spouse, or a child with special needs,” Tari emphasized. “Our name, ‘Yaya’, carries significant meaning. It means ‘grandmother’ in Greek and ‘caregiver’ in Swahili and Thai. Most importantly, it stands for ‘You Are Your Advocate’, which we believe embodies the future of self-directed care.”
CareYaya’s impressive growth and impact have not gone unnoticed in the healthcare and aging sectors. Operational for three years, they’re backed by grant funding from respected organizations like AARP, the National Institutes of Health, and Johns Hopkins University.
The platform caters to diverse care needs, serving families with elderly and/or disabled adults and medically vulnerable children. Their focus is on companion care, which allows for intergenerational relationships to develop between college students and care recipients. “The number one piece of feedback we receive is that the ‘students feel like grandkids!'” Tari shared.
CareYaya’s student caregivers provide a wide range of services, including medication reminders, fall prevention, mobility assistance, meal preparation, light cleaning, dressing, pet care, running errands and general recreation. “It’s not just about physical care, but also about providing companionship and mental stimulation,” Tari explained.
One of the key advantages of CareYaya is its affordability. While traditional care options often start at $30 or more per hour, CareYaya offers companion care starting at $17 per hour, making it much more accessible for many families. Best of all, overnight, weekend and holiday care is available at no surcharges.
Beyond the practical aspects of care, CareYaya is also addressing a growing social issue – the loneliness epidemic.
“Loneliness, especially among those over 65, has become a serious health concern,” Tari said. “The Surgeon General has stated that loneliness can be as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day for those 65 and over. Our caregivers not only provide practical assistance but also much-needed social interaction and companionship.”
As CareYaya continues to grow and evolve, its impact on both care recipients and student caregivers is profound.
“We’re not just providing a service,” Tari concluded. “We’re fostering intergenerational connections, providing valuable experience for future healthcare professionals, and most importantly, improving the quality of life for those in need of care. It’s a model that we believe has the potential to transform the landscape of eldercare and companion care in America.”
The CareYaya model represents an innovative solution to multiple challenges in the healthcare sector: the shortage of affordable care options, the need for practical experience for healthcare students and the growing epidemic of loneliness among the elderly. By connecting these dots in a mutually beneficial way, CareYaya is not only providing a valuable service but also shaping the future of care in the United States.