HelpHive launches home support platform for seniors

HelpHive has launched a platform in Vancouver that connects seniors with vetted local helpers for non-medical support at home. The service is aimed at families facing rising caregiving pressure in Canada.

The startup offers on-demand and recurring help with everyday tasks, including companionship, meal preparation, housekeeping and light home maintenance. It currently serves families in Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

The launch comes as unpaid caregiving continues to strain households across the country. About 8 million Canadians care for a loved one, spending an average of 5.1 hours a day supporting basic needs, according to figures cited by HelpHive.

That pressure is particularly acute for people balancing care for children and older relatives at the same time. Nearly 2 million Canadians are part of the "sandwich generation," the company said, while higher living costs and distance between family members are making regular in-person support harder to provide.

Local service

Users can book one-off or recurring visits without long-term contracts. Helpers go through background checks and interviews before joining the platform, according to HelpHive.

The company positions the platform as a practical support option rather than a medical care provider. It focuses on tasks that can help older people remain at home longer while easing some of the organisational burden that often falls on relatives.

That reflects a wider demographic shift. By 2030, nearly one in four Canadians will be over 65, according to figures cited by the company, at a time when many older people say they would prefer to remain in their own homes rather than move into institutional care settings.

At the same time, the informal networks families have often relied on are under pressure. Smaller households, full-time work and greater geographic spread can make ad hoc support harder to arrange, especially when needs arise at short notice.

Caregiver strain

Digital platforms aimed at home support have grown in response, seeking to match households with local workers for non-clinical help. HelpHive is targeting a segment of the market between unpaid family care and formal health or residential services.

The model is designed to reduce both logistical and emotional strain on caregivers, the startup said. For families, the appeal may lie in arranging practical help quickly for routine needs that do not require a nurse or other licensed professional.

Taylor Milliken, founder of HelpHive, described the pressure facing many households in stark terms.

"Families are being stretched to a breaking point," said Taylor Milliken, Founder of HelpHive. "Too often, people are forced to choose between showing up for work and showing up for someone they love. That shouldn't be the trade-off," said Milliken.

For employers and policymakers, caregiver strain has broader economic implications because it can affect labour force participation, absenteeism and mental health. For families, the issue is often more immediate, with support needs changing rapidly after illness, reduced mobility or the loss of another source of help.

Non-medical home support is often used to fill those gaps. Help with meals, light household tasks or regular companionship can make it easier for an older person to continue living independently and give family members time to manage work, childcare and their own health.

HelpHive says its aim is to address those day-to-day pressures rather than replace family involvement. It frames the service as a way to give relatives confidence that a trusted person is available when they cannot be there themselves.

"Our goal is simple," added Milliken. "Help seniors stay independent at home, and give families confidence that someone they trust is there when it matters," said Milliken.