It’s one of a Kynd
A GOLD Coast start-up is out to shake-up the care industry through a radical approach that matches inhome carers with consumers – cutting out administration costs and bureaucracy in the process.
Burleigh Heads’ Michael Metcalfe said he was motivated to launch Kynd after the experiences of family members opened his eyes to how costly and complex the industry was for people seeking aged care, disability support and private care services.
“It started with mum 18 months ago. She had a fall at home and broke both of her kneecaps. We were thrown into looking for a carer for her. We were turned down by a number of service providers, because she did not fall into one of their categories. So my dad had to become her full-time carer,” he said.
Mr Metcalfe said it was a similar situation for his sister, 39, who crushed her elbow in a camping accident, and could not access the National Disability Insurance Scheme as the injury was temporary.
He said the final experience was seeing the frustration of his grandmother’s in-home care – she did not know who was coming to her home week to week and the timing was also irregular.
Mr Metcalfe, who had previous experience running the accommodation service startup Snowtels in the UK for more than four years, said he began to research the care industry and found widespread discontent around service levels, a lack of choice and accountability, long waiting periods and high administration costs, which can be up to 40 per cent of the cost.
Mr Metcalfe said carers were also frustrated.
“Carers wanted flexibility, and were sick of being told they had to work weekends. There was little recognition, certainly no control of their earnings. Some of their feedback was that there was too much bureaucracy. All they were trying to do was help an individual or a family.”
Mr Metcalfe said his research led him to develop an app for consumers to choose their carers.
“It offers the ability to view profiles and really be able to learn about them, because typically the person would arrive from the agency and they wouldn’t know a thing about them,” he said.
He said Kynd was focused on in-home and community support. Mr Metcalfe said Kynd consumers have the ability to view details such as the hobbies, qualifications, pay rates, experience and services available from carers.
By the same token, carers can talk to consumers and see if they are the right match.
The start-up has launched across the Gold Coast and Tweed Shire, with more than 250 carers using the app.
The carers choose their hourly rate and Kynd takes a fee of 15 per cent.
It is free for members, or consumers, to join and choose services, which include one-off, short-term, or ongoing care, and there are no entry, administration or exit fees.
Mr Metcalfe said he was confident Kynd, which also has phone support for those who don’t use the app, has the formula to become a success.
ALL THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WAS HELP AN INDIVIDUAL OR A FAMILY. KYND’S MICHAEL METCALFE