Papa, a Miami-based startup founded by Andrew Parker, has grown from a simple idea of providing companionship for older adults into a large in-home support platform that now works with more than 40 health plans across 10,000 U.S. cities. The company has completed more than three million home visits through its network of trained “Papa Pals,” who help with everyday tasks while also supporting non-medical healthcare needs. Parker said the business has entered what he calls its second phase, where Papa focuses on making companion care part of healthcare delivery. “We’ve learned a lot about how to provide the best and safest service, and I’m proud of where we are today,” Parker said.
Papa has added services such as home safety checks, health risk assessments, medication pickup, and support for telehealth and post-discharge care. Parker said, “We’ve added a lot of capabilities to be not just a companion, but also someone that helps move the needle on that person’s healthcare needs.” The company reports data showing lower costs of care and fewer hospital readmissions among members who use its service. New executives, including CTO Thomas Carlough, now guide technology and data efforts, including the use of AI to support Pals. Papa also plans to explore a consumer self-pay option as it seeks to make in-home support a standard part of care.
