One caregiver. Who shows up, knows the routine, and clicks with your family.
Tell us what’s going on. A real person presents qualified caregivers experienced with complex situations involving conditions like Parkinson's disease and various dementias. You choose the right fit and hire them directly.
By application · a real person follows up within a day
- Safety-screened
- Complex-care experienced
- Guided by clinicians
Outside Central Virginia? Get the care app & tell us where you are →
Why families come to Alula
Agencies sell coverage. Your family lives with the fit.
Most families are already supervising care. The real question is whether to keep paying an agency premium for a caregiver you do not choose.
Agency model
You pay the premium. They keep the control.
- ChoiceAgency decides
- PriceMarkup every hour
- ConsistencyNew face when staffing changes
- Work left to youRoutine, fit, follow-up
Alula model
You choose the person. We support the structure.
- ChoiceYou choose the caregiver
- PriceFlat $389/mo fee
- SupportMatching, setup, backup network
- VisibilityApp keeps everyone on track
Tell us what's happening
Routine, location, care needs
We verify and match
Safety review, references, fit
You choose the fit
Meet candidates, hire directly
The app keeps care visible
Briefs, meds, plans, family access
What safety-screened means here
The state minimum is not a fit signal.
Virginia sets a baseline for home care organizations. Before Alula presents a direct-hire candidate, we add a deeper verification step around criminal history, references, complex-care experience, and fit for your family.
Virginia baseline
Required before agency employment
- Sworn criminal-history disclosure
- Virginia criminal record report
- Barrier-crime review
Alula verification
- 7-year criminal-history review
- 159-category safety review
- Reference and fit conversations before we present anyone to you
- Complex-care experience reviewed for your family situation
The value stack
Everything agencies use to justify the markup. Stacked around a caregiver you choose.
Agencies mark up every care hour, so the premium grows as your need grows. Alula is a flat monthly fee around a direct-hire caregiver: matching, verification, setup, the app, backup planning, and real follow-through.
Alula service fee
You pay your caregiver directly.
$389/mo
Founder-led caregiver search
We learn your routine, temperament, location, schedule, and what has already failed before we present anyone to you.
Safety-screened candidates
You choose from direct-hire caregivers we have already reviewed for references, fit, and complex-care experience for your family situation.
159-category safety review
Felony and misdemeanor charge categories are reviewed before a candidate reaches your family.
Payroll and employment setup
We help you get the direct-hire relationship set up cleanly through a trusted payroll partner.
Care management app
Your family circle can see the plan, Care Pro briefs, emergency instructions, medications, appointments, and reminders that keep care on track.
Backup network and ongoing help
We help plan coverage, connect screened backup options when available, and help replace a fit that isn't working for your family.
Keep the caregiver relationship. Drop the hourly agency markup. Keep the structure your family actually needs.
Request a matchRequest a match
Tell us what is happening. A real person will reach out within a day to learn the routine, answer questions, and decide whether we can help.
There's no commitment. No fee until you're ready to move forward with candidates.
We take a limited number of families at a time, so everyone gets real attention.
Tell us about your family
A little about your situation is all we need to get started.
Built by People Who've Lived It
Alula was founded by two families here in Charlottesville. Bridgid and Jason have helped Bridgid's parents through complex care needs for years. Kathryn and Justin are clinicians and educators who help shape the questions we ask and the guidance families receive.
Founder-led matching
A real person learns your family's context before we present anyone to you.
Clinical perspective, used carefully
Clinician founders help shape care-context questions and guidance; your family still chooses the caregiver.
Direct-hire setup support
Payroll and employment setup are handled through a trusted partner so the relationship can start cleanly.
Care management app included
Shared plans, Care Pro briefs, medication tracking, emergency plans, appointments, and alerts keep your family circle aligned.
Common Questions
What does it cost?
Our service fee is $389 per month. Agencies make their margin by marking up the hours they sell; Alula charges a flat monthly fee instead. You pay your caregiver directly, and our fee covers matching, payroll setup, verification, the care management app, ongoing support, and access to the backup network.
What does the care management app do?
The app keeps your care plan, emergency plans, Care Pro briefs, medications, appointments, documents, and updates visible to your family circle. Your family can see what's happening, step in when they can, and get gentle check-ins that help keep doses, tasks, and follow-ups on track. Appointment prep helps you know what to ask the doctor before the next visit.
What happens if our caregiver is sick or on vacation?
We help you plan coverage and can connect you to screened backup options when available in your area. We don't pretend backup is automatic; we make sure there is a real plan instead of leaving you to improvise.
What if it doesn't work out with the caregiver?
We help you find a replacement. You're not on your own.
We've never hired someone directly before — is this complicated?
That's exactly why we exist. We help with matching, payroll setup, employment paperwork, and the practical questions that make direct hiring feel hard.
Where do you serve?
Central Virginia — Harrisonburg, Staunton, Charlottesville, and Richmond. We take a limited number of families at a time, so everyone gets real attention. If you're nearby, reach out and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.
The Alula care app
The app lets your whole family see care as it happens.
Your family gets the care management app so your Care Pro and anyone stepping in can see what is happening: the plan, daily routine, emergency instructions, medications, appointments, documents, and updates.
Care Pro briefs, family check-ins, medication tracking, appointment prep, and quiet-day prompts keep details from getting missed and make small problems easier to catch early.
Outside Central Virginia? You can still get early access to the app and tell us where caregiver matching should come next.
Included with caregiver matching. Standalone early access is free for now.
Get early access
The app today, plus first-in-line when caregiver matching reaches your area.
Care Pro brief
Martha shared today's brief: lunch went well, the walk was shorter, mood lifted after music.
Shared with family
Family check-in
How are things going with Martha, your Care Pro?
Checking in
Appointment prep
Your appointment prep package is ready.
Questions prepared
Care Pro nudge
Hi Martha, we don't have your brief yet for today. Can you let the family know what happened today?
Follow-up open
Medication trend
John's medication adherence has improved. Good work, team.
On track
