OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Help-Full, Inc. announced this week that ownership of the social engagement platform linkAges Community (“linkAges”) will transition to the Oakland, Calif.-based company.

Help-Full will assume ownership of linkAges from Sutter Health’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation starting in January 2018. Help-Full leverages matching, time-exchange and crowd funding concepts with the goal of alleviating older adults’ loneliness, and bringing relief to concerned family members.

Sutter Health’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation conducted a pilot program using linkAges to look into ways of increasing social engagement in communities across the Bay Area, with particular focus on the health and wellbeing of older adults. Over three years, the program grew to include 1,280 members located across 10 Bay Area cities, resulting in an exchange of more than 5,200 hours of service. After concluding the pilot and achieving promising insights, Sutter Health selected Help-Full to carry linkAges forward and offer new and enhanced dimensions to the program.

With the addition of linkAges, Help-Full will increase its capacity to provide innovative solutions that address loneliness in older age. “There are 22 million older adults in the U.S. who are lonely on a regular basis,” said co-founder and CEO Jenny Gallagher. “In addition to causing a lot of heartache, loneliness is associated with health conditions leading to higher costs for the healthcare system. We are committed to solving this big problem and, with the addition of linkAges, we will offer new ways for more seniors to get practical help and companionship.”

ABOUT HELP-FULL
Help-Full was founded in 2016 by Jenny Gallagher and Shamshad Khan, with the mission of wiping out loneliness in older age. Through proprietary technology, the Help-Full platform helps older adults live with more vitality. By connecting them to a community of capable, compassionate, compatible helpers, seniors get assistance with tasks around the house and on-the-go, as well as engage with helpers in mutually enjoyable activities. For more information about Help-Full, please visit www.help-full.com | facebook.com/helpfullcares.

ABOUT SUTTER HEALTH
Sutter Health was named one of the nation’s top five large health systems in 2016 thanks to its integrated network of physician, employee and volunteer pioneers—more than 60,000 people strong. Rooted in Sutter Health’s not-for-profit mission, these team members partner to deliver exceptional care that feels personal. From physician offices to hospitals to outpatient care centers and home services, they proudly support and learn from the more than 3 million people in their care—nearly 1 percent of the U.S. population, in one of the most diverse and innovative regions in the world. Sutter pioneers adopt new technologies, make novel discoveries and embrace creative thinking to help patients and communities achieve their best health. From its street nurse program that provides check-ups for homeless people, to telemedicine-aided specialist consultations, to walk-in care clinics, to smart glass technology, the Sutter Health team goes beyond traditional models to make care more convenient and to nurture and empower people throughout their medical journey.

For more information about the Sutter Health network visit: sutterhealth.org | facebook.com/sutterhealth | youtube.com/sutterhealth | twitter.com/sutterhealth.

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SOURCE Help-Full