Will seniors turn to a startup to find assisted living accommodations?

That remains to be seen, but it’s the hope of San Francisco-based Seniorly, which Mashable reported “is trying to be the Airbnb for assisted living.” Seniors, or their family members, can search the company’s database for the best assisted living option within the company’s covered areas.

And it’s not just about the database; this week the company added a way to book short-term assisted living stays, in addition to the usual long-duration stays. The website has links to long-term, short-term and in-home care; interested parties can search by city or zip code in areas that the company is working to expand.

The company was founded in August of 2014, launched its platform in January of 2015 and has raised $1.2 million in seed funding.

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The company itself says of its mission that it is to “connect families and local businesses by delivering services that will keep seniors engaged and happy.” The report said that Seniorly tracks assisted living openings to enable short-term stays in communities that usually only offer longer-term care options.

That not only helps the seniors, who may need a period of care beyond what their families can provide after a medical procedure or at a time of otherwise heavy family obligations, but also helps to fill gaps for assisted living facilities.

Short-term or respite care stays can last anywhere from three days to three months.

Online videos offer a look at the facilities listed and even provide owner interviews. Links to state licenses and citations are also available, and the service is free to users; providers pay a referral fee.

It may like to compare itself to Airbnb, but it’s tougher to book an assisted living stay—at a typical cost of $100–$300 per day—than an apartment or house. For instance, seniors are required to provide documentation of their health from a physician before their assisted living stay is confirmed.

Instant Insights /

Startup seeks to match seniors with assisted living

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