Care.com Offers Canadians Affordable Options to Solve Their Family Care Challenges

World's largest online care destination helps Canadian families find care to suit their budget and schedule this March Break and beyond

TORONTO, March 11, 2013 /CNW/ - As many Canadian families struggle with short- and long-term care needs, especially during school holidays like March Break, a recent entry into the Canadian market could help ease child care resource struggles. Care.com (https://ca.care.com/), the largest online care destination in the world, with more than 7 million members, has an extensive database of Canadian caregivers providing child care, special needs care, senior care, pet care, and housekeeping. On average, more than 50 jobs are currently posted daily to Ca.Care.com, with more than double the number of caregivers joining the site each day.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111020/NE89882LOGO)

In February 2013, Care.com surveyed 526 Canadian parents about their family care challenges. Twenty-seven percent said it would cost them less to stay home with their kids than to hire child care during March Break, indicating affordability as one of the main barriers.

Recent media reports also highlight affordability as an issue, citing wide variations of daycare costs in Canada, from $7 a day at a Quebec subsidized daycare to $75 a day and higher for infants in some Canadian cities. For one-on-one care, nanny agencies can charge finder's fees of thousands of dollars to place one nanny. With a competitive and flexible subscription structure for finding any number of caregivers providing any number of services, Care.com can help make care more affordable providing considerable savings to families.

"In Canada, finding affordable, quality and flexible care has become a real source of stress for families," said Katie Herrick Bugbee, parenting expert and managing editor, Care.com. "Our goal is to make it easier for Canadian families to find caregivers who meet their specific needs. Part of that is providing tools and resources to help families make more informed hiring decisions."

Parents also struggle to find care to suit their unique needs. While some parents may be looking for a full-time nanny, others may need help only over weekends or for that occasional date night. So a one-size-fits-all daycare solution does not work.

Christine Bergsma of Guelph, Ontario found herself scrambling to find a babysitter last November when her parents, who helped her care for her now 13-month-old son, moved out of town. After posting a job on Care.com, she received four responses within 10 minutes and hired her babysitter two days later.

"I was actually very surprised at how quickly I found a quality babysitter," said Bergsma. "What stood out for me were the tremendous options offered by Care.com's database for a lot of different care needs and it gave me peace of mind that I could personally check out caregiver profiles and see their photos. I would not have been comfortable using a generic online classified service when it comes to hiring care for my child."

Care.com is currently offering 20 percent off a premium membership with code SPRING20. This promotion expires March 22, 2013.

About Care.com, Inc.

Launched in the U.S. in 2007, Care.com (www.care.com) is now the largest online care destination in the world with 7 million members spanning more than 17 countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as Germany through the acquisition of Berlin-based Besser Betreut, now a Care.com company. Care.com enables families seeking care to connect with millions of care providers, share caregiving experiences and get advice. The Company helps families address the unique lifecycle of care needs they go through - child care, including special needs, senior care, pet care, housekeeping and more. Care.com is also unique in the scope of services it offers its members. Through its subsidiary, Breedlove & Associates, members have access to the nation's largest provider of comprehensive household payroll services, and through its recent acquisition of Parents in a Pinch, families and corporations can utilize the expertise of a recognized leader in in-home back-up childcare and adult care. Care.com also provides tools and resources to help families make safer and more informed decisions throughout the search and hiring process, including monitored messaging, background check services, recorded references, and an online safety guide. Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, technology companies, and professional services firms offer Care.com memberships as a benefit to employees through its Workplace Solutions program.

Care.com launched in Canada in the summer of 2012 and quickly built a national database. Care.com offers two levels of membership: basic and premium. The basic level is free and allows families to search for caregivers in their city and post jobs. Premium membership starts at $11.25 a month for a 12-month subscription and enables members to contact caregivers and view any documents they upload such as background checks and certificates.

SOURCE: Care.com

Mahafrine Petigara, Edelman (on behalf of Care.com), [phone], [email protected]; Rachel Hlinko, Edelman (on behalf of Care.com), [phone], [email protected]

http://www.care.com

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111020/NE89882LOGO

PRN Photo Desk, [email protected]