以下文章来源于深圳微时光 ，作者黄小邪 深圳微时光 . 寻找深圳的每一寸惊喜。 本文来自微信公众号： 深圳微时光 ，作者：黄小邪，题图来自：AI生成 在深圳生活的陪诊师易蓉，今年以来大约为10位老人提供了陪伴服务。她感觉，老年人对陪伴的需 求，还没有被市场充分"看见"，很多有陪伴需要的家庭，不知道去哪里找合适的服务者。 一、1.6亿独居老人，被忽略的情 感需求 第五次中国城乡老年人生活状况抽样调查结果显示，2021年，全国老年人生活在空巢家庭 （包括独 居家庭、仅与配偶居住家庭） 的比例为59.7%。北京大学教授赵耀辉在2024年分享的调查数据显 示，我国60岁以上独居老年人 （含仅与配偶居住家庭） 约有1.6亿，其中80岁以上独居者占了一 半。在中国老龄科学研究中心的调查中，78%的老人都把"有人陪"看得比"有人照顾生活"重。 我在社交平台上联系上数位尝试寻找此类工作机会、没有任何相关经验的发帖人，还无一人接到过订 单。在深圳，也有陪诊机构、陪诊师挂出了陪伴服务。 在团购平台上，深圳一家陪护机构挂出了"老年陪伴师"服务，服务内容包含情感陪伴、心理疏导、生 活协助等。客服人员跟我分享了两个过往的服务案例，一个 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the innovative business model of Papa, a platform that connects college students with elderly individuals seeking companionship and assistance, addressing the loneliness and care needs of the aging population in the U.S. [4][5][6] Group 1: Company Overview - Papa was founded in 2017 by Andrew, who recognized the need for companionship while caring for his grandfather with dementia [5][8]. - The platform connects college students, referred to as "Papa Pals," with elderly individuals needing non-medical assistance, such as companionship, meal preparation, and transportation [9][10]. - As of 2024, Papa has provided over 2.6 million services, demonstrating significant growth and demand for its offerings [10]. Group 2: Market Context - In 2017, the U.S. population aged 65 and older was approximately 48.8 million, representing 14.94% of the total population, indicating a deepening aging society [5]. - The elderly population in the U.S. is projected to grow to 80 million by 2040, with a significant shortage of caregivers, highlighting the need for innovative solutions like Papa [10]. Group 3: Business Model and Financials - Papa operates on a dual revenue model, charging both elderly clients and partnering with insurance companies to provide emotional companionship services [20][19]. - The company achieved a valuation of $1.4 billion after multiple funding rounds, including $1.8 million in Series B funding in 2020 and $150 million in Series D funding [9][10]. - Papa's services have been shown to reduce medical expenses for its members, with reported decreases in healthcare costs by up to 30% for frequent users [21][20]. Group 4: Service Offerings - Papa focuses on non-medical companionship, addressing emotional needs that are often overlooked in traditional elder care [10][11]. - Services include daily companionship, transportation, housekeeping, and gardening, tailored to the specific needs of elderly clients [11][13]. - The platform emphasizes safety and boundaries, clearly defining the scope of services to avoid any inappropriate interactions [18]. Group 5: Competitive Landscape - The article compares Papa's model to other companies in the elder care space, such as AgeWell Japan and Honor, highlighting the unique focus on emotional companionship [24]. - Unlike traditional elder care services, Papa's model leverages a gig economy approach, attracting college students seeking flexible income opportunities [24][25]. Group 6: Challenges and Opportunities - The article notes that while the Papa model is successful in the U.S., it may face challenges in replicating this success in China due to cultural differences and varying willingness to pay for non-medical services [25]. - There is an opportunity for domestic elder care companies to incorporate emotional companionship into their service offerings, potentially improving the overall quality of care for the elderly [25].