LoLo Care, a home care marketplace and coordination platform serving North Carolina's Triangle Region, has launched its Care Assistance Program, offering non-medical home care at $23 per hour to approved applicants facing limited incomes or financial hardship. The program lowers LoLo Care's own fee and is made possible in part by participating local caregivers who agree to the reduced rate.
The announcement matters because the median cost for a non-medical caregiver in North Carolina is $30 per hour, according to CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey. That totals $15,600 annually for just 10 hours of weekly care, a sum that can strain the budgets of families on fixed incomes. By cutting the hourly rate by $7, LoLo Care aims to make essential support—such as companionship, meal preparation, and help with daily routines—more accessible. At the program rate, a two-hour visit costs $46.
"Many of the families we hear from need a few hours of help with meals or company, and the hourly price is what holds them back," said Charles Petrini-Poli, Co-Founder and CEO of LoLo Care. "We reduced our fee for this program so more people in our community can get that help at home."
The program is open to individuals and families in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Applicants—whether applying for themselves or a loved one—share their care needs and a brief explanation of what makes care difficult to afford. The platform simplifies the process, allowing families to apply effortlessly without needing a LoLo Care account or making a payment. Each application is reviewed individually by a dedicated team member, typically within five business days, and there is no obligation to book care immediately. Approval does not reserve a caregiver or confirm a booking, and care still depends on caregiver availability.
Services covered under the program include companionship, meal preparation, daily routines assistance, errands, rides, light housekeeping, and family caregiver support. Each family's circumstances remain private throughout the review. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval, and LoLo Care is currently available only to families in North Carolina.
Independent caregivers who join the program receive a Community Care Partner badge on their LoLo Care profile, which they can share on social media. The badge recognizes a caregiver's part in making care more affordable locally and is not a safety certification. "The caregivers who take part are choosing to give some of their time back to the community they live in," said Thibaud Peverelli, Co-Founder and CTO of LoLo Care.
The initiative arrives as families nationwide grapple with rising care costs. CareScout's findings, detailed in its 2025 cost of care data for North Carolina, underscore the financial pressure many households face. LoLo Care's move could set an example for other home care marketplaces looking to balance affordability with caregiver pay, though the program's reliance on voluntary caregiver participation may limit how quickly it can scale. For now, the program offers a tangible option for Triangle-area families who need a few hours of help but have been held back by price.
