Originally published by Mobi Health News on March 11, 2022
Retail giant Walmart is teaming up with behavioral health-coaching platform BetterUp on a new service aimed at supporting caregivers. Called BetterUp for Caregivers, the subscription service will be exclusively offered through Walmart's Wellness Hub.
The monthly subscription offers coaching circles with other caregivers and live virtual classes. Members can also tap into exercises and wellness-tracking tools, as well as certified coaches and community support. Users can also access interactive exercises and games. The tool is currently listed for $124.99 per month.
"'BetterUp for Caregivers' taps into over eight years of insights and experience in coaching and whole person development, rooted in science and a holistic approach to creating mental fitness and resilience in individuals. The offering will have a wide array of on-demand solutions including 25-minute drop-in workshops on topics like stress and finding balance, tailored self-guided programs and personalized assessments.
"A focal part of the offering includes Self-Care for Caregivers Coaching Circles, a live community program led by professional coaches that will cover topics like self-care, building strength and resilience, nurturing and compassion," Julie Barber, senior vice president of health and wellness merchandising at Walmart U.S, said in a statement.
WHY IT MATTERS
According to the CDC, roughly one in five people in America, or 53 million people, are active caregivers. The agency reports that two in five caregivers have two or more chronic conditions themselves.
This partnership is pitching the program as support for this population.
"Caregivers suffer some of the highest levels of stress and isolation in our country," Eduardo Medina, cofounder and COO of BetterUp, said in a statement. "It’s critical to provide effective support for such an important community, and we’re proud to harness BetterUp’s expertise in human transformation to support them in finding social connection, building their mental fitness and increasing their resilience through science-backed digital and human-centered solutions.
"This is the first time that a solution of this magnitude has been attempted, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to team up with Walmart to provide a transformational experience for this community at scale."
THE LARGER TREND
This news comes just months after BetterUp announced a $300 million Series E funding round, bringing the company's valuation to $4.7 billion. The company has also been expanding through acquisitions. In September, BetterUp purchased two-data focused software companies, Motive and Impraise.
Meanwhile Walmart has been expanding its digital reach. In May 2021, Walmart announced its acquisition of telehealth provider MeMD. This brought the virtual care company's assets into Walmart Health. In June 2020, Walmart purchased medication management company CareZone's tech platform, patents and other intellectual property.