Privacy Policy

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy applies to the CareNearby mobile app, progressive web app, and website (collectively, the “Service”). By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information as described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

• Identity & contact information: full name, phone number, email address.
• Location data: approximate or precise GPS location, used to match you with nearby PSWs and, while a booking is actively in progress, to share a PSW's live location with the client for that visit.
• Identity & credential documents: for PSWs, government-issued ID, police record checks, certifications, and reference information, uploaded during onboarding.
• Photos: profile photos and document photos you choose to upload.
• Booking history: appointment dates, times, services requested, duration, pricing, cancellations, and ratings/reviews you submit or receive.
• Communications: messages exchanged with our support team, and in-app notifications.
• Device & usage data: app version, device type, and basic diagnostic information used to keep the Service reliable.

3. Why We Collect It

We use your information to:

• Match clients with available, nearby PSWs and facilitate bookings.
• Verify PSW identity and conduct background/police checks before they can accept bookings, for client safety.
• Send appointment confirmations, reminders, and live-arrival updates during active visits.
• Process billing for completed bookings (currently a flat $25/hr rate, 3-hour minimum).
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries or disputes.
• Maintain the security, integrity, and proper functioning of the Service.
• Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use your location data for advertising or third-party tracking.

4. How Long We Keep It

• Account profile (name, phone, email): retained while your account is active, and anonymized immediately upon account deletion.
• Identity & credential documents (PSWs): permanently deleted upon account deletion, as this is sensitive personal information that should not persist once you leave the platform.
• Live/precise location pings: not stored beyond the duration of the active booking they relate to.
• Completed booking & payment records: retained in anonymized form for up to 7 years after account deletion, as required for tax, accounting, and legal record-keeping.
• Support communications: retained for up to 2 years to help us resolve recurring issues and improve the Service.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct inaccurate or outdated information directly in your Profile.
• Delete your account at any time from Profile → Delete Account. This immediately removes your uploaded documents and anonymizes your profile; you will not be able to log back in with that account.
• Export a copy of your data by contacting us at the email below.
• Withdraw consent for location sharing at any time through your device's permission settings — note this will limit your ability to be matched with nearby PSWs.

Quebec residents have additional rights under Law 25, including the right to data portability and to be informed of any automated decision-making; CareNearby does not use automated decision-making to make booking or eligibility decisions about you.

6. Third Parties We Work With

We share limited data with trusted service providers who help us operate the Service:

• Twilio — sends one-time password (OTP) verification codes via SMS to confirm your phone number.
• Vercel — hosts our website, app, and (via Vercel Blob) securely stores uploaded document files.
• Railway — hosts our backend application server and database.

Each of these providers is contractually limited to using your data only to provide their service to us, and not for their own purposes. We do not share your information with advertisers or data brokers.

7. Security Practices

• All data in transit is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS.
• Authentication uses signed JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and one-time SMS codes — we never store passwords.
• Database access is restricted and credentials are stored as environment secrets, never in source code.
• Upon account deletion, personally identifying fields are anonymized and sensitive documents are permanently and irreversibly deleted, not merely hidden.

No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. If we become aware of a breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you and the appropriate authorities as required by law.

8. Legal Compliance

CareNearby operates in Ontario, Canada, and handles personal information in accordance with:

• The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
• Quebec's Law 25 (Act to modernize legislative provisions respecting the protection of personal information), for any users located in Quebec.
• Applicable Ontario health-information principles, where relevant to credential and background-check data handled during PSW onboarding.

9. Cookies & Local Storage

Our app and progressive web app use local device storage to keep you signed in and to cache app assets so the Service loads quickly, including while offline. Our website uses minimal, essential cookies/local storage for the same purposes. We do not use third-party advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.

10. Not a Medical Service

CareNearby is not a medical service. PSWs available through the Service provide companionship and personal support — such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, mobility assistance, and medication reminders — not nursing, clinical, or medical care. Any health-related information you choose to share with a PSW or with us is used solely to help deliver appropriate personal support, and is not treated as a clinical medical record.

11. Children

The Service is intended for users 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. We will update the “Last updated” date above, and where changes are material, we will notify you in-app or by email before they take effect.

13. Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information can be sent to support@carenearby.app.