US care tech company buys UK's largest home care company Home Instead

The UK’s biggest home care group, Home Instead, which has over 200 offices across the UK providing care to over 21,000 people, has been bought by Honor, a leading home care technology and operations platform based in San Francisco.

Founded in the US, Home Instead opened in the UK 15 years ago. The home care group employs around 13,000 people.

The acquisition will transform the caregiver and client experience and revolutionise care for older people, according to Honor and Home Instead, which said there will be a ‘dramatic increase in innovation to benefit caregivers and clients through expanded offerings’.

Martin Jones, Home Instead UK’s chief executive, welcomed the acquisition, saying: “The pandemic turned a simmering backburner issue into an urgent, global human crisis for older adults. It’s a simple truth: The way the world cares for older adults must evolve.

“The hospital of the future is the home. And our future will be fuelled by a vibrant, respected workforce delivering care with skill and compassion. It’s an expectation we need to embrace and quickly – we’re delighted to be leaders.”

He added: “There is a severe shortage of professional caregivers across the globe, as outlined in the 2021 report 'Building the Caregiving Workforce Our Ageing World Needs'. As a result of this combination, Honor and Home Instead will continually enhance training opportunities for caregivers. Honor’s easy-to-use interactive app gives caregivers access to more hours and allows them to participate more in the process, which improves their overall satisfaction.”

'Enhanced caregiver and client experience'

He believes the buyout by Honor will “lead to an enhanced caregiver and client experience.

“When introduced, the Honor app will give caregivers more power over their schedule, as well as more consistent hours and benefits.

“The Honor technology platform empowers caregivers with more information in the palm of their hands that allows them to provide better care – from real-time performance feedback, highlighted changes in care needs and more insights at their fingertips.”

It will also mean that clients and their families will have access to more technology such as an app for a better, more transparent, care experience, according to Mr Jones, who says: “Clients’ families will be able to access more information from the care team in real time both in terms of the care delivered to being able to discuss availability of PPE in the home and much more.”

Founded in 2014, the San Francisco–based company Honor says it brings workforce management and technology expertise together with high-touch, personalized care to improve the in-home care experience.

Since launching the Honor Care Network in 2017, Honor has partnered with a growing roster of home care agencies and currently provides home care to families in more than 800 cities and towns across the United States.

Seth Sternberg, co-founder and chief executive of Honor called it an "incredibly exciting moment as we bring together the preeminent global home care brand and network with the best technology and operations platform to provide an even more amazing caregiver and client experience."

He added: “For the past 27 years, Home Instead has demonstrated a powerful combination of leadership, passion, and innovation—elevating the standard of care globally and becoming the respected industry leader.

“Never before in the history of the world has a company had this much reach or this much investment in technology to solve caring for ageing adults, their loved ones and those who care for them.”

Honor aims to 'drive innovation'

To drive innovation, Honor said it will substantially increase its investment in research and development through engineering and technology. Honor and Home Instead also plan to extend their advocacy and social purpose initiatives.

“These two organisations share one passion: transforming the care experience for older adults around the world,” said Jeff Huber, chief exective of Home Instead US.

"For years, our commitment has been to create the world we want to grow older in. This transaction adds fuel to that commitment. Combining the strengths of these companies moves our passion from aspirational vision to inevitable impact."

The Home Instead network will operate under the Home Instead name as a subsidiary of Honor. The Honor Care Network will continue under the Honor name.

“Our primary focus is treating caregivers with respect and providing them with the tools they need to succeed. We call it Care for Care Pros,” Mr Sternberg said. “We know that if we care for our caregivers, they'll in turn provide even better care for our parents.”

Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced.

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