Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Hamberger.
Hi Tara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t set out to start a company. I was just trying to get through something that felt overwhelming and deeply personal.
For most of my career, I worked behind the scenes helping organizations build systems that still function when things get complicated. I spent years in digital operations and strategy, focused on making sure the right things happen at the right time without people burning out in the process. That work made me comfortable with complexity—but it didn’t prepare me for what happened at home.
A few years ago, I became closely involved in supporting my grandmother—my Nanna—as she navigated dementia. Suddenly, I was juggling appointments, decisions, paperwork, and emotional moments that don’t show up on any checklist. What stood out to me wasn’t just how confusing the systems were, but how isolating it felt. There were many moments when I just needed someone to check in or help me think through what to do next.
I wasn’t alone in that experience. My mom, my aunties, and so many others around me were carrying the same responsibility. We were all trying to manage the decisions, emotions, and uncertainty that happen outside of appointments and official conversations.
What I kept noticing was how much of the experience happens after people leave a doctor’s visit. Real life resumes. Questions come up later. Stress builds at night or in the in-between moments, when there’s no obvious place to turn. That space felt overlooked, even though it’s where so much of the strain lives.
RootedCare+ grew from that reality. It wasn’t about building something flashy or new, it was about acknowledging what was already happening and creating a way for support to show up when it’s actually needed. That perspective still shapes everything we do and keeps the work grounded in lived experience.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges has been understanding how support actually works across organizations, state and federal agencies, and employers and how fragmented those systems can be. On the surface, many programs are well-intentioned, but in practice they often don’t connect, which creates gaps for the people relying on them. Learning how to work within those constraints while still making support feel accessible has taken time.
Another challenge has been alignment. Different partners move at different speeds and operate under different requirements, especially in healthcare and public-sector environments. Building something flexible enough to adapt, without losing clarity or focus, has been an ongoing learning process.
There’s also the reality of building in spaces where trust and compliance matter. Progress tends to be deliberate, approvals take time, and adoption doesn’t happen overnight. Rather than seeing that as a barrier, we’ve learned to design for it—prioritizing clarity, transparency, and consistency from the start.
None of these challenges slowed growth, they shaped it. They’ve helped us build more thoughtfully, partner more intentionally, and create something that works in the real world, not just in theory.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about RootedCare+?
RootedCare+ provides always-on, text-based support for people navigating care, both individuals supporting someone they care about and Medicare beneficiaries who need help between visits. We focus on the moments that happen outside of appointments, when questions surface later, stress builds, or someone needs reassurance in real time.
We initially served people providing care in many different situations, not just for aging loved ones. Over time, it became clear that the same gaps exist for patients themselves, especially those managing ongoing or chronic health needs. Today, RootedCare+ supports both sides of the care experience.
At the center of the experience is Roo, our conversational companion designed with empathy at its core. Roo doesn’t just deliver information—it checks in, listens, and responds in a way that feels human and supportive. Every interaction is intentionally designed to reduce overwhelm, acknowledge emotion, and help people feel less alone as they navigate complex situations.
We partner with healthcare practices, community organizations, and employers to extend support beyond traditional touchpoints without adding staffing burden. What we’re most proud of is building something that feels present and approachable, support that shows up when real life resumes, not just when care is formally scheduled.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people assume my background is purely technical or strategic, but I actually started out in radio and photography. I spent time both behind the mic and in control rooms, and later behind the camera as well. Those experiences taught me how to really listen, read tone, notice what’s not being said, and respond in real time. They still shape how I approach communication and design today, especially when it comes to building something that feels conversational, emotionally aware, and human.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rootedcare.plus
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rootedcareplus
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/rootedcareplus
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rootedcareplus/
