Upside streamlines the path to housing stability with tailored assessments and efficient navigation, transforming each health plan member’s journey.
Upside began with a personal story, deeply rooted in family, care, and the unforeseen challenges of aging. Our journey was catalyzed by the experiences of Margarita, the grandmother of our founder, Jake. Facing her own set of unique challenges, Margarita’s story shed light on the housing complexities encountered by older adults and their families.
Initially, we launched as a direct-to-consumer brand, offering guidance and support. However, it was Margarita’s situation that illuminated a broader need. She required assistance with daily tasks in a living space that was becoming increasingly unsuitable for her aging needs. This understanding steered our pivot towards health plan partnerships, with a newfound focus on housing stability and tailored assistance.
Navigating Margarita’s transitions, we recognized a widespread need for adaptable housing solutions. Upside emerged from this realization, driven to offer more than just temporary fixes. We understood that aging is a unique journey for each individual, marked by frequent and significant transitions. Thus, our mission became clear: to provide personalized housing assistance that respects the individuality of each journey, ensuring comfort, safety, and a sense of belonging.
Today, Upside collaborates with health plans to forge meaningful impacts in the lives of numerous members, offering a scale and depth of change far surpassing what we initially achieved with our consumer-focused model. Our story is about evolution, insight, and most importantly, a deep commitment to understanding and addressing the deeper needs of those we serve.
Health plans choose to partner with Upside for our commitment to enhancing health equity through affordable and comprehensive housing stability services. We recognize that a stable living environment is fundamental to member well-being and plays a pivotal role in achieving health equity. Our customized approach includes in-depth assessments, personalized housing navigation, and efficient stabilization, all tailored to fit within members’ budgets. This approach aligns seamlessly with health plans’ goals of member satisfaction, affordability, and quality service. Upside’s integration with health plans not only simplifies the housing process for members but also drives operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, our services contribute to member acquisition and retention, offering health plans a distinct competitive edge. At Upside, we are dedicated to creating solutions that uphold member dignity and support health plans in building a more inclusive and equitable healthcare landscape.
We specialize in providing essential housing stability services to health plan members. Our mission is to navigate the often complex and overwhelming world of housing options, making it accessible and manageable for everyone. With a unique blend of expertise, compassion, and innovative technology, we assess individual needs, guide members through their housing choices, and facilitate a smooth transition to stability. Our approach is centered on understanding the distinct circumstances of each member, ensuring that their housing solution not only meets their immediate needs but also aligns with their long-term comfort and satisfaction. At Upside, we do more than just locate housing; we ensure each member’s living environment, whether their current home or a new one, is safe, accessible, and tailored to their needs, supporting their independence and well-being. This holistic view of housing stability, integrating both physical safety and emotional well-being, is a cornerstone of our commitment to enhancing the lives of our members.
Our approach goes beyond standard social determinants of health (SDOH) assessments, delving deeper into specific housing-related factors often overlooked in claims data. We start with a comprehensive needs assessment, focusing intently on each member’s unique housing situation and preferences. This initial step is pivotal in customizing our housing navigation and stabilization efforts to effectively address individual challenges and needs. Our strategy is meticulously tailored, leveraging a combination of expert resources, innovative technology, and a keen understanding of the nuances in housing stability. Whether it involves adapting existing homes or facilitating transitions to new living environments, our team ensures every action is finely tuned to the member’s lifestyle and financial circumstances. This thorough and focused approach enables us to provide more than just temporary fixes; we aim to establish enduring housing stability and comfort, addressing the deeper housing issues that traditional assessments might miss.
Join us in redefining housing stability for health plan members. Learn how Upside’s innovative approach can contribute to member satisfaction and overall plan success.
What is a Housing Stability Program?
A comprehensive, first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at identifying housing risks and promoting relevant, stable housing for individuals in need on a national scale. Through tailored recommendations and a range of interventions, Upside addresses the specific needs of each of your eligible members. This not only supports sustainable housing arrangements but also contributes to significantly reduced claims costs.
What makes Upside’s approach unique compared to existing Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)?
Upside’s approach is distinctively holistic and national in scope, setting us apart from traditional Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). While CBOs often have a strong local presence, they are usually constrained by regional limitations and can be overburdened with care management tasks. In contrast, Upside offers a comprehensive, nationwide network encompassing a diverse range of housing options, from high-quality class A units to more affordable solutions. This wide reach ensures we can effectively serve health plans across multiple markets, providing a consistent and scalable service. Moreover, our integration of multiple interventions into a single, personalized workflow, managed by our dedicated Care Guides, allows for a more tailored and effective response to each member’s unique housing needs. This approach not only addresses the immediate housing stability concerns but also contributes to overall health outcomes, making Upside an all-encompassing partner in housing stability for health plans.
Can Upside handle multiple member populations?
Yes! Housing is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. And we specialize in delivering versatile, flexible support that meets members where they are. We’d be happy to walk through your particular use cases.
Does Upside operate in my market?
Upside boasts an extensive network, spanning over 33,000 partner communities across the nation and continually expanding. To get a detailed analysis of our network coverage in your specific area, we invite you to contact us directly.
What are the costs associated?
We offer a flexible and transparent pricing model, ensuring our services are affordable and straightforward for both health plans and their members. For specific pricing details tailored to your plan, please contact us to receive a personalized proposal.
What is the Return on Investment with Upside?
Partnering with Upside for housing stability solutions leads to tangible benefits for health plans. Expect to see notable improvements in membership growth and retention, increased member engagement, significant reductions in medical spending, and positive health outcomes for enrolled members.
Jake Rothstein
Founder & CEO
Jake is the Founder and CEO of Upside, whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of older adults everywhere. Upside is the first and only fully managed living option for older adults, providing a flexible and exciting alternative to traditional senior living.
Jake previously co-founded Papa – a company which pairs older adults and families with “Papa Pals” for companionship and assistance with everyday tasks – based on experience with his own grandfather (who he called papa).
Upside’s mission is deeply personal for Jake. After moving his own ‘papa’ to senior living, he realized that there was an opportunity to create a better experience – this time for his grandmother, Margarita.
Peter Badgley
Founder & COO
Peter is the Founder and COO of Upside, whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of older adults everywhere. Upside is the first and only fully managed living option for older adults, providing a flexible and exciting alternative to traditional senior living.
“Our goal is to help people age in the right place, and that journey begins with offering residents the safest, most secure environments possible so they can be free to live their best lives. Home is an “upstream” factor of overall health — the core of everything we do at Upside. If you can’t get that right, then the other things you do to positively impact your wellness and longevity don’t have as strong of an effect.”
Peter is passionate about Upside’s mission, having dealt with so many of these challenges with his own grandparents.
Patrick Regan
Health Care Sales
Patrick serves as our VP of Enterprise Health Care Sales, bringing an impressive 18 years of experience in B2B roles. With a proven track record in revenue growth, Patrick provides strategic guidance and hands-on leadership to our team. His commitment to collaboration, innovation, and client satisfaction at Upside is driven by his personal experience assisting an aging family member facing housing challenges.
Outside of work, Patrick embraces the joys and challenges of parenthood as a dedicated dad (#GirlDad). He also enjoys watching his favorite football team play on Saturdays, passionately supporting the team with a resounding ‘Go Noles!’
Megan Wagner
Head of Health Care Operations
Megan Wagner is known for her passion in driving business development and operational efficiency. Her expertise in identifying improvement areas, streamlining processes, and fostering successful partnerships has been crucial in enhancing Upside’s service delivery. Megan excels in clear communication and complex problem-solving, mentoring colleagues across various levels. Her commitment to efficiency and effectiveness significantly contributes to Upside’s mission of providing stable, affordable housing solutions to all members.
In addition to her accomplishments at Upside, Megan has a track record of leadership in planning, implementing, launching, and achieving partnership success in programs for health plans. Her experience in this area further highlights her ability to drive results and create impactful solutions.
Todd Michalik
Head of Technology & Product
Todd Michalik brings a wealth of experience as the Head of Product at Upside, marked by a successful track record in the technology industry. His expertise spans the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch. Known for his strong leadership and communication skills, Todd excels in building and motivating high-performing teams. He is deeply passionate about developing innovative products that address real-world challenges, significantly contributing to Upside’s mission of delivering impactful housing stability solutions.
Todd’s leadership has been instrumental in driving Upside’s product innovation and success. Under his guidance, the company has consistently delivered cutting-edge solutions that have positively impacted the housing stability of countless individuals and communities.
Dr. Elissa Kozlov
Advisor
Dr. Elissa Kozlov, Ph.D. is an NIH-funded, assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy and the Director of the Population Aging Concentration at Rutgers School of Public Health. Dr. Kozlov is a dedicated advocate, educator and researcher for improving healthcare outcomes for older adults and individuals with serious illnesses. Her extensive background in various clinical settings, coupled with her academic achievements, which include a doctoral degree in clinical and aging and developmental psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Beeson K76 Career Development Award from the National Institute on Aging, position her as a vital asset to Upside’s mission.
John Gorman
Advisor
John Gorman’s authoritative knowledge in Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act strategy comes from a rich history of governance and turnarounds of distressed health plans. Prior to founding Gorman Health Group, he served in significant roles at the Health Care Financing Administration’s (HCFA, now CMS) Office of Managed Care. John’s extensive background in healthcare policy advocacy and government affairs, along with his current advisory roles, makes him a critical advisor for Upside’s innovative housing initiatives.
Chuck Hector
Advisor
With a history as the Chief Revenue Officer of in-home support company Papa and MDLIVE, a telehealth industry leader, Chuck Hector brings decades of experience in healthcare sales, implementation, and client success. His leadership roles at industry innovators including Circadian Health, IncentOne and ComPsych have equipped him with a deep understanding of health incentives and managed behavioral health, which will be pivotal in advancing Upside’s mission.
Dr. Nirav R. Shah
Advisor
As a Senior Scholar at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, Dr. Nirav R. Shah, MD, MPH is a highly respected healthcare leader known for his expertise in public health, healthcare insurance, and clinical operations. He is a Board-certified Internal Medicine specialist and a graduate of Harvard College and Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Shah holds advisory roles at the CDC, serves as a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and is an independent director of STERIS plc. He also serves as a trustee of the John A. Hartford Foundation and previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. His notable career spans roles as an operator, scientist, innovator, and regulator. Dr. Shah’s ongoing research at Stanford, aimed at enhancing healthcare quality and safety while lowering costs, aligns seamlessly with Upside’s mission to promote health equity through innovative housing solutions.
Upside Corporate Headquarters
6365 NW 6TH Way, Suite 200
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
