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Caring.com Names Senior Care Service Award WinnersJan 15, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- In an annual recognition program designed to help the growing number of families seeking senior care, 383 assisted living and Alzheimer's care communities in 40 states have been named Caring Stars of 2013, according to a release from Caring.com. "We congratulate the Caring Stars of 2013 for receiving this high praise from members of the Caring.com community," said Andy Cohen, cofounder and CEO of Caring.com, in a release. "Choosing the right senior living situation can be one of the most difficult decisions that individuals and families make. The Caring Stars of 2013 demonstrate excellence in what matters most to seniors and their loved ones, and these service providers are an inspiration to everyone concerned about this very important issue. "Consumers across the Web increasingly use reviews to guide their selection of products and services of all kinds, and this online word-of-mouth is also growing in importance in the senior care industry. There's good reason for this. Firsthand testimonials are consistently cited as one of the most important factors for caregivers in choosing an assisted living or Alzheimer's care community for a loved one. Reviews help families figure out which providers to call, what to look for, and what questions to ask." According to research conducted by Caring.com in May-June 2012, half of family caregivers search online for senior care service providers and two-thirds of caregivers say they looked on the Internet after noticing signs of Alzheimer's disease in a loved one. A combined 94 percent say online reviews are trustworthy information (45 percent) and helpful to their search for a senior care provider (49 percent) -- only a small minority (6 percent) tend not to believe them. In fact, consumers trust online reviews 12 times more than descriptions from the business owner. The Caring Stars of 2013 award is based on consumer ratings and reviews that were posted on Caring.com between Dec. 15, 2011, and Dec. 1. To qualify, the community had to receive: three or more reviews during this timeframe, at least one of which being a 5-star rating; an overall average rating (across all reviews on their listing) equaling greater than 4 stars; and no unresolved negative reviews. To help the Caring Stars communities stand out to families searching for care in their area, a special badge is featured on their listing in Caring.com's assisted living or Alzheimer's care directories and search results. Caring.com is a website for family caregivers. Caring.com is a funded by DCM, Intel Capital, Shasta Ventures, and Split Rock Partners. Report information: Caring.com/BestSeniorCare. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |