Now in Third Year, Award Recognizes Senior Living Excellence From Consumer Ratings and Reviews on Caring.com

San Mateo, CA, January 28, 2014 — As the Web’s #1 source for senior care reviews, with more than 2 million monthly visitors seeking information and support and more consumer reviews than any other senior care site, Caring.com is pleased to announce the “Caring Stars of 2014” — America’s best assisted living and memory care communities according to consumer ratings and reviews. Recognized by the 2013 National Mature Media Awards, this innovative program is now in its third year and honoring more than 400 senior living communities in 38 states — the top 1% of assisted living and memory care communities nationwide — as Caring Stars of 2014. To see the complete list of winners, please visit www.caring.com/bestseniorliving.

“Congratulations to the Caring Stars communities for earning high praise from residents, families, and senior care experts on Caring.com thus achieving this award of service excellence,” said Andy Cohen, cofounder and CEO of Caring.com. “In the senior living industry, online word of mouth has grown in importance. Families tell us that reviews are among the top considerations when they choose an assisted living or memory care community for a loved one, and we see communities with reviews getting significantly more online inquiries than those with no reviews.”

In recent research conducted by Caring.com, 60% of family caregivers indicated that they used the Internet in researching senior care service providers, and two-thirds of family caregivers took to the Web after noticing signs of memory loss in a loved one. A combined 94% of family caregivers find online reviews to be trustworthy and helpful in their search for senior care providers. Only a small minority (6%) tends not to believe them. In fact, several studies have shown that consumers trust online reviews more than descriptions from business owners.

Originally launched in January 2012 as the first of its kind in the senior living industry, this year’s Caring Stars award was determined from consumer ratings and reviews posted on Caring.com between December 1, 2012, and December 1, 2013. To qualify, the community had to have received all of the following:

  • Three or more reviews during the time frame, at least one of which with the highest rating of five stars
  • An average overall rating (across all reviews on their listing) equaling greater than 4 stars
  • No unresolved negative reviews

To help Caring Stars communities stand out, a special badge is featured on their listing in Caring.com’s Senior Care Directory and search results. The service excellence award is also mentioned in calls with consumers via Caring.com’s free senior living referral helpline: (866) 824-8174.

Caring.com currently hosts about 50,000 senior care reviews, with about half for assisted living and Alzheimer’s care communities. Each reviewer must have firsthand experience with the community’s eldercare services, and all reviews are read by a Caring.com employee and considered against the Review Guidelines before being displayed on the site.

“While honoring the Caring Stars of 2014, we also extend thanks to the families, residents, and experts who continue to actively share their firsthand experiences in online reviews to help others,” Cohen said. “The Caring Stars of 2014 are to be applauded for a job well done.”

To learn more about the Caring Stars program and/or to find local senior living service providers, visit www.caring.com/bestseniorliving.