Care in Costa Rica since 2019

We care for people. And create opportunities for those who give care.

Serena connects people who need care with people who make care their profession. We bring together technology, training and service management to support families, companies and institutions.

In the app

  • Child care
  • Older adults
  • Pet care
  • Home cleaning
A woman plays a board game on the floor with a toddler who has her back to the camera.

Your path

What brings you to Serena?

Pick the option that sounds most like you, and we'll show you where to start.

I need care

For my family, my home or my pet

Find care professionals for your kids, an older adult in your family, your pet, or home cleaning. Get to know their profile, chat in the app, and choose at your own pace.

Rather tell us first? Tell us what you need

I want to work

In care or home cleaning

Build your profile in the app, list the services you offer and when you're available, and train with Sertify.

I run a business

A care or cleaning company

Running a care or cleaning company? We're building software to help you organize your staff, assign services, follow up, and stay in touch with your team.

Want to offer care to your employees? Employee care

  • Staff organization

    In development
  • Service assignment

    In development
  • Follow-up

    In development
  • Communication

    In development
  • Reports

    In development

I represent an organization

Public and private organizations

We design institutional care and employee care proposals around what your organization needs.

Categories

Four kinds of care, one app

Find professionals for each of these in the app. Check availability in your area in the app, or write to us.

  • A child's hand and an adult's hand build a castle out of wooden blocks.

    Child care

    For the hours when your kids need company and you can't be there.

  • An older man and a young woman play cards on a sofa.

    Older adults

    Companionship and help with daily activities for someone in your family.

  • A golden retriever on a leash walks beside a person.

    Pet care

    For when your pet needs attention and company while you're away.

  • Hands place folded laundry on a sofa in a bright living room.

    Home cleaning

    To keep your home in order when there aren't enough hours in the day.

How it works for families

The app

How the Serena app works

Five steps, from opening the app to rating the service.

  1. Choose what you need

    Download the app and pick whether you're looking for care or want to work in care. Sign up with your email, Google or Apple.

    Serena app screen: under the logo, two cards let you choose between finding a caregiver and finding a care job.
    App screen (2026, cropped)
  2. Search and compare

    Search by category and area, compare profiles and choose.

  3. Review their profile

    Every profile shows experience, an intro video and reviews.

  4. Book and chat

    Book and coordinate the service in the app, chat with the care professional, and pay by card. You can book someone you already know again.

  5. Rate the service

    After the service, you can leave a rating and a review.

IllustrationIllustrations based on the app; the real screens are in English.

Serena app screen: under the logo, two cards let you choose between finding a caregiver and finding a care job.
App screen (2026, cropped)
Illustration
Illustration
Illustration
Illustration

The app's screens are in English today; the illustrations simplify them to show how it works. Guide to the app's main buttons

A toddler walks hand in hand with an adult along a path by the water.

Trust

What we ask for, and what it means

We'd rather show you how it works than promise what no one can guarantee.

  • When professionals join

    To join, professionals provide an ID, a criminal record certificate from Costa Rica's Judiciary and a résumé.

  • On every profile

    Experience, an intro video and reviews, so you can get to know the person before you choose.

  • Before the first visit

    Chat in the app to go over the details and ask your questions.

  • After the service

    Rate the service and leave a review, so other families can choose with more information too.

What no check can do

No check removes every risk, so we recommend talking with the professional before the first visit.

Serena is not an emergency service. In an emergency, call 9⁠-⁠1⁠-⁠1.

What we ask for, in detail

Training

Train with Sertify and build a career in care

Sertify is Serena's online training platform for people who work in care and home cleaning.

  1. Learn

    Online courses for care and home cleaning.

  2. Get certified

    Assessments and private Sertify certificates.

  3. Build a profile

    Set up your professional profile in the Serena app.

  4. Access opportunities

    Offer your services to families looking for care.

  5. Grow a career

    Build experience, reviews and training.

Sertify certificates are private: they show that a person completed a training program and its assessment. They do not replace credentials from INA (Costa Rica's National Training Institute) or professional licenses.

Organizations

Software and care services for your organization

Two ways we work with organizations: a platform for care and cleaning companies, and care services designed with you.

Software for care and cleaning companies

We're building a platform for small care and cleaning companies. We'll show you where it stands in the demo.

What we want to solve with you

  • Staff organization

    In development
  • Service assignment

    In development
  • Follow-up

    In development
  • Communication

    In development
  • Reports

    In development

Costa Rica in context

Why care matters in Costa Rica

Public figures about care in the country. They're context, not Serena's results.

32 hrs

a week is what women spend, on average, on unpaid domestic work. Men spend just under 16.

Source: INEC (Costa Rica's statistics institute), National Time Use Survey (INEC presentation at ECLAC) (opens another site), 2022

44%

of women are in the labor force, compared with 68% of men.

Source: World Bank, based on INEC and ILO data (opens another site), 2025

1 in 4

people in Costa Rica will be 65 or older by 2050.

Source: INEC population projections (reported by CRHoy) (opens another site), 2024 (projection to 2050)

nearly 7 in 10

people caring for a dependent person are women, and most care for someone in their own household.

Source: 2018 care survey, cited in the National Care Policy 2021–2031 (opens another site), 2018

Our commitments

These are goals, not results. We'll publish our own figures once we can measure them.

  • Accessible training

    Help more people turn their care work into a profession with Sertify.

  • Economic opportunity

    For women and men who give care, with a special focus on women and mothers.

  • Clarity

    Explain what we ask for, what it means, and what it doesn't.

  • Honest numbers

    Publish results only when we can measure them and back them up.

Let's get started

Care takes many hands. Join in.

Get the Serena app

To find care, or to offer your services.

Rather tell us first? Tell us what you need

A company, institution or partner?

Tell us what your organization needs and we'll get back to you as soon as we can, through the channel you choose.

Go to the contact form
Get the app