Vermonters Can Hire Help by the Hour Through New App: A Community-Powered Solution
In the wake of the pandemic, Rustam Sengupta, an entrepreneur with a background in renewable energy, developed Tuktu, a digital platform designed to connect individuals seeking support and companionship with vetted local service providers. The name, derived from an Inuit word meaning caribou, symbolizes the platform's role as a guide for those in need of assistance.
Tuktu's Vermont launch in February has been a success, with 300 residents signing up and 30 booking services. The platform offers a range of nonmedical services, including rides to appointments, meal prep, house cleaning, and companionship, often for elderly parents or family members with disabilities. The cost of services is $25 to $40 an hour, with Tuktu taking a 15 to 25 percent cut of the fee.
What sets Tuktu apart is its focus on community-powered solutions. Sengupta, who moved to South Burlington with his family last summer, emphasizes the platform's ability to reduce loneliness and disconnection, as highlighted in a 2023 U.S. Surgeon General's report. Traditional home-care agencies, he notes, are based on a more traditional model of professional caregivers working longer shifts, whereas Tuktu caters to a wide range of needs.
The platform's success in Vermont can be attributed to the state's aging population and community-minded ethos. With an estimated 23 percent of residents aged 65 or older and more than a quarter living alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the need for such a service is evident. The AARP reports that one in four adult Vermonters provides unpaid care for family members, further underscoring the demand for Tuktu's services.
Tuktu's providers, a diverse group of college students, recent retirees, and service-oriented professionals, commit to between six and 16 hours of work a week. The platform's ease of use, as noted by Melissa Merkel-Dallaryan, the Center on Rural Innovation's impact investing manager, makes it well-suited for Vermont's rural areas. The ability to book services on demand, similar to Uber, is particularly appealing.
Users and providers alike have praised Tuktu's reliability and flexibility. Cheryl Hutchko, a Toronto resident, uses the platform to provide occasional help to her 95-year-old mother in a retirement home, booking care providers for just an hour at a time. Michael Ip, a social worker in Vancouver, utilizes Tuktu to assist his residents with various tasks, including medical appointments and outings.
Joyce Penner, a 70-year-old piano teacher, has been a Tuktu provider for nine months, serving as a travel companion for elderly clients. She finds gratification in brightening up someone's day, as exemplified by her experience with a client who wanted to walk on the beach in her bare feet.
In Vermont, Emery Guzyk, a first-year student at UVM, and Susan Wilson, a retired higher education professional, have found flexible work through Tuktu. Guzyk provides housekeeping, meal prep, and companionship services, while Wilson, who initially doubted the platform's legitimacy, has been impressed with its values and is hoping to expand her services.
Gena Grover, a Shelburne resident, signed up for Tuktu to provide companionship to her 92-year-old mother, Genny Hazard. She appreciated the platform's flexibility and Sengupta's personal involvement, as he occasionally provided services himself. Grover's positive experience led her to recommend Tuktu to others, highlighting the power of word-of-mouth marketing.
Sengupta's vision for Tuktu goes beyond its digital platform. He sees the mission as fundamentally low-tech, emphasizing the importance of community connections. The company's expansion efforts, including information sessions and partnerships with organizations, aim to make Tuktu a trusted resource for Vermonters in need of support and companionship.
As Tuktu continues to grow, it has the potential to revolutionize the way Vermonters receive nonmedical care, filling a critical gap in the state's aging population. The platform's community-powered approach and focus on flexibility make it a compelling solution for both users and providers, offering a brighter and more connected future for Vermont's elderly and their families.
