Care workers: if they do not reply within 36 hours, the online platform will refund the amount paid
The start-up WeCare connects female professionals with families: however, payment is only made if the placement is successful; if the selected worker does not respond, the family is refunded their credit
Whether due to the demographic trend of a growing population of over-60s and a declining number of newborns, or because of the shortage of people willing to take on this role, care work is one of the most in-demand professions. Here are a few figures to put this into perspective: in Italia, there are just 8.5 carers for every 100 people aged over 60 living alone, according to the Family (Net) Work report produced by Censis and sponsored by Assindatcolf. A telling example comes from the story of the start-up WeCare srl (Lebadanti.it), a platform that puts families and carers in direct contact with one another. ‘The figures achieved in just two months of operation show just how great the need is for simpler tools to bring together those seeking care and those looking for work,’ explains CEO and founder Valerio Carboni, who launched a new version of the website in July. “We immediately surpassed 6,000 registered users – including families and carers – with more than 3,000 profiles of available carers and over 3,500 job vacancies posted,” he explains.
Finding a carer in our country is one of the most difficult tasks, partly because it affects people who are highly vulnerable, and partly because there has been a gradual decline in formal domestic work over recent years: in 2025, there were 804,464 workers who had paid at least one contribution to INPS, down for the fourth consecutive year, with around 173,000 fewer workers than in 2021. Caregivers now account for 51.3 per cent of the total, outnumbering domestic workers for the second year running. ‘When a family is looking for a carer, in most cases they don’t have weeks to spare,’ explains Carboni. ‘The need arises following a hospital admission, a fall or a sudden deterioration in a parent’s condition, and someone has to be found quickly.’
The platform allows carers to register for free, create their own profile and apply for job offers, whilst families can search for available carers in their area and contact them via a credit-based system: you only pay when you contact a carer, not simply for searching. The fee starts at 9 euros per contact and does not require a subscription. If the selected carer does not reply within 36 hours, the credit used is automatically refunded. Looking ahead, over the next 12 months, Lebadanti.it aims to reach 25,000 users.
