Discover the inspiring journey behind Good Life Sorted, a tech-enabled service transforming care for older adults in the UK. Drawing from personal experience, Constantine Karampatsos shares how the platform empowers independence, tackles loneliness and fosters community through compassionate, innovative solutions.
Could you share how your personal experiences, particularly with your grandmother, Zoe, and your father, inspired you to create Good Life Sorted? How did these moments shape the mission and vision of the organisation?
My grandmother, Zoe, was such an inspiration. She lived independently until she was 96, thanks to the support of a helper for over a decade. Watching how that small amount of help made such a massive difference to her life really stuck with me – it wasn’t just about independence; it was about dignity and quality of life. She was able to live a bold and vibrant life in Greece until the end of her life.
My dad’s experience also played a big role. He became disabled when I was 10, and it gave me an early insight into how hard it can be for families to juggle care and everything else. Those experiences planted the seed for Good Life Sorted – it’s about making life easier and better for everyone involved, not just those needing support but their families too.
Good Life Sorted introduces the idea of ‘pre-care,’ a new approach to supporting older adults. What exactly does pre-care entail, and how does it differ from traditional care models? Why do you believe this approach is essential for addressing the needs of older adults?
Pre-care is really about stepping in before traditional care is needed. It’s not about medical intervention or taking over; it’s about enabling older adults to stay independent and live life on their terms. There shouldn’t be a sudden switch from working life and independence to suddenly needing a care home. Life is more fluid than that.
Think of it as practical support with a personal touch—things like helping with shopping, cleaning or just being there for companionship. What makes it different is the approach. It’s empowering, not intrusive. Older adults can be proud, and asking for help isn’t easy. Pre-care offers that gentle nudge of support in a way that feels like a neighbour helping out, not a professional coming in with a uniform.
At Good Life Sorted, Helpers do more than just help out – they’re there to build real, meaningful relationships that tackle loneliness head-on and make life brighter for older adults. Loneliness is a big issue, and we know how much a friendly face and regular connection can do to keep both mental and physical health on track. Unlike one-off or occasional visits, our Helpers show up consistently, providing the kind of dependable, long-term support that makes all the difference – not just practically, but emotionally too.
The demand for care is rapidly increasing, with the number of people aged 65+ requiring assistance projected to rise by 67% by 2035 (Health Foundation, 2019). By 2072, individuals over 65 could make up 27% of the UK population (ONS). This shift highlights the urgent need for pre-care solutions and community-based support, as emphasised in NHS Shift 1, to reduce pressure on overstretched healthcare systems. Currently, one in three NHS staff and 9% of the general population provide unpaid care, contributing £445 million daily to the economy (Petrillo and Bennett, 2023).
Technology plays a pivotal role in Good Life Sorted. How does the platform balance innovation with the human touch, and how has this model improved the quality of life for both customers and helpers?
Our platform is clever, but we never let tech take away the personal side of what we do. It handles the admin – like matching Helpers and customers, invoicing and payments – so Helpers and customers can focus on building real relationships. It also makes it easier for Helpers to be self-employed or business owners. For us, technology acts as an enabler, it allows us to make the right connections (between Helpers and Customers) quicker and gives us an edge when it comes to our ability to scale and operate in new areas.
The human touch is at the heart of it. Our Helpers aren’t just there to tick off tasks but bring care, kindness and companionship. That’s why so many of our customers say they feel less anxious and more connected. It’s about making life easier without losing that emotional connection, which is where the magic happens. We get hundreds of applications, but only a few become Helpers as our vetting process is so in depth.
Good Life Sorted has been shown to reduce loneliness, improve health outcomes, and even lessen the strain on the NHS. Could you elaborate on how the service benefits communities and contributes to societal well-being on a larger scale?
We’re making a real difference, not just for older adults but for communities as a whole. For our customers, it’s about improving their quality of life – whether it’s reducing loneliness or helping them feel healthier and more capable. And let’s not forget the NHS. By stepping in early, we’re taking pressure off GPs and hospitals, tackling things like loneliness and everyday struggles before they become bigger issues.
And then there’s the impact on Helpers. Many are over 50 and looking for flexible work that feels meaningful. They love the sense of purpose they get from being part of Good Life Sorted, and it’s fantastic to see those connections growing in local communities.
We recently surveyed 1,000 customers. 65% of customers feel that since they’ve had a Helper, feelings of depression and anxiety have improved; 70% of customers felt more socially connected since having a Helper; and customers feel that since having a Helper their wellbeing has improved by an average of 41%. We’re all very proud of that.
With your background at companies like Amazon and Rakuten, what lessons from marketplace governance have been instrumental in shaping Good Life Sorted’s scalable and sustainable business model? What challenges did you face in applying those principles to this venture?
My time at Amazon and Rakuten taught me a lot about how marketplaces work. The key takeaway? You don’t control people; you create systems that inspire trust and enthusiasm.
At Good Life Sorted, we’ve built a platform that gives Helpers the freedom to manage their work while ensuring quality for customers. The tricky part was getting that balance right – making sure Helpers felt supported without being micromanaged. But we’ve nailed it by focusing on transparency and creating a culture that values trust and flexibility.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Good Life Sorted’s growth? How do you plan to scale the organisation across the UK while continuing to prioritise meaningful connections and high-quality support for older adults?
I’d love to see Good Life Sorted become the go-to option for pre-care across the UK. The dream is to grow our network of Helpers and customers while keeping that personal touch that makes us special.
Scaling is all about finding the sweet spot between efficiency and connection. The tech will help us expand, but it’s the human side that’ll keep us grounded. I also want to work more with local communities, helping them see how pre-care benefits everyone, not just older adults. We’ve currently got around 2,400 customers being supported by over 900 Helpers across the south – a fraction of the market.
Ultimately, I want Good Life Sorted to lead a movement that changes how we think about ageing – because everyone deserves to live with dignity, independence, and connection.
Find out more at: https://goodlifesorted.com/
