Blooming Health raises $4.2M to help providers engage with seniors

The company hopes to reach one million older adults by the end of next year

The population of the US is getting older: the number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years, reaching 80 million in 2040, and that is forcing a large number of Americans, many of whom already have children of their own, to become caregivers to their aging parents, leading to burnout 

Blooming Health is a company that wants to help alleviate some of that burden by offering a digital engagement and referral solution, allowing service providers to engage older adults and their family members.

On Wednesday, the company announced an oversubscribed $4.2 million seed round from investors that included Afore Capital and Crossbeam Venture Partners, with additional investment from Chelsea Clinton's investment firm, Metrodora, and angel investor and DoorDash Cofounder, Evan Moore.

Along with the funding, it was also announced that Andrew Parker, founder and CEO of agetech company Papa, has joined the company's advisory board.

Blooming Health's platform gives community-based aging care providers the technology to reach older adults, and their caregivers, across text, voice calls, emails, in over 30 languages by using AI, automation, and advanced data analytics. The company allows for wellness check-ins and needs detection around issues such a nutrition access, transportation and mobility, and emergency preparedness.

Some of Blooming Health's features include mass and individual outreach, allowing providers to reach a specific group, or up to thousands of members, with a single click, along with the ability to create SMS and voice optimized surveys. It also provides scheduled activity reminders and data and reporting, with access to detailed member communication and activity data.

The company's partners, which includes community organizations like Catholic Charities, tens of Area Agencies for Aging (AAAs), NY State Office for Aging (NYSOFA), Oak Street Health, and the AARP Foundation, have seen a three-fold increase in clients' social engagement, while saving 15 hours per week for staff.

Through its collaboration with the AARP Foundation over the past six months, Blooming Health has added access to close to $10 million worth of services for older adults, including over 350,000 meals, and over 200,000 programs across health and wellness, education and recreation, and transportation.

The company already has operations across New York, Arizona, Texas, and California, with plans to expand operations to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan; it's targeting to reach one million older adults by the end of next year.

"At Blooming Health's core is a desire to change the way society ages by providing proactive access to holistic care in an equitable way," Nima Roohi, co-founder and CEO of Blooming Health, said in a statement.

"With the support of our investors, we are thrilled to continue growing rapidly, making key hires, and further advancing in our mission to serve as a single touchpoint for all aging-in-place needs so older adults can receive the care they need, when they need it."

(Image source: gobloominghealth.com)