Story by Shanee Edwards. Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner Date Published Apr 8, 2026
In a city as connected as Los Angeles, loneliness can still quietly take hold, especially for older adults whose lives have shifted after retirement, loss, or major life transitions. For Playa del Rey neighbors Kat Hatayama and Sarah Kolenik, that realization didn’t come from research or market analysis. It all started with a walk around the neighborhood. “Kat and I used to live across the street from each other,” Sarah says. “Kat’s an avid walker, and one day she saw me coming out of my house when I first moved in. She asked me to go on a walk, and that’s kind of where our story begins.”
That simple invitation sparked a friendship and eventually, a business rooted in human connection.
Different Backgrounds, Same Purpose
Sarah came from the entertainment industry, working as a writer-producer with her own production company. Kat built her career in real estate, a field she still practices today. On paper, their industries were different, but their conversations revealed a shared feeling. “While we have deep roots in entertainment and real estate, we felt like something was missing–a deeper sense of purpose and drive,” Sarah says.
That sense of searching deepened during the pandemic when Sarah began volunteering with Meals on Wheels. What she discovered there would become the foundation of Karma Companions.
“Of course, people needed the invaluable service and food delivery, but what became just as clear was how much those few minutes of real human connection mattered each day,” says Sarah.
She began spending more time with some of the seniors she met, going out, sharing meals, and building real friendships.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had naturally stepped into the role of a companion,” she says.
What struck her most was that many of these individuals weren’t immobile or physically disabled. They were active, capable, and independent–just isolated.
“They were either widowers, widows, empty nesters or just retired, maybe a little bit too early,” she says. “They just didn’t have the opportunity to get out and to be social on a more profound level.”
A Cultural Insight and a Business Idea
Around the same time, Kat had been reflecting on longevity and quality of life, inspired by the concept of “Blue Zones,” popularized in part by a Netflix documentary series on longevity. These regions, including Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; and Loma Linda, California, share a common thread: strong social bonds and a clear sense of purpose.
Having married into an Asian family and visiting Okinawa several times, Kat saw firsthand how purpose and connection shaped aging.
“Both of my husband’s grandmothers lived long lives, one was 99, the other lived to be 105. I honestly don’t see that as a coincidence. What I did notice was the difference in level of care between here and Asia. Specifically, having this ‘ikigai’ is what’s keeping a lot of this Japanese culture alive,” she says.
Ikigai, a Japanese concept, roughly translates to “a reason for being.” It’s the idea that having purpose, routine, and meaningful daily engagement contributes to a longer, more fulfilling life. “We’ve made incredible progress in extending life, but we haven’t evolved at the same pace when it comes to connection and emotional well-being as we age,” Sarah says.
From that realization, Karma Companions was born.
What Karma Companions Does
Karma Companions is not a caregiving service. It’s something more specific and, in many ways, more overlooked.
“We are strictly companions,” Kat says. “We are preventative care.”
The company matches active adults 55-plus with carefully vetted companions for friendship, shared activities, and social engagement. Think walks, dinners, classes, or simply meaningful conversation.
In addition to companionship, they offer a “companion assistant” role, which can include light logistical support like helping with errands, attending appointments, events, doing a home project, or organizing day-to-day tasks. The goal is independence.
“We are keeping mom and dad out of assisted living. We are stepping in when we see the need,” Kat says, sharing the difficulties a lot of families face, as they balance taking care of their children and their aging parents at the same time.
A Carefully Matched Relationship
As a boutique staffing agency, Karma Companions takes a highly curated approach. Companions go through a rigorous vetting process, including interviews, background checks, and a look at their DMV records.
“We like to say we know our companions as much as possible without being friends with them for 10 years,” Kat says.
From there, matches are made based on personality, interests, and lifestyle, not just availability. Their roster of companions is as diverse as Los Angeles itself.
“We have a glassblowing expert, a doctor, people from the Peace Corps, somebody who works at the lab at UCLA,” Kat says.
Sarah adds, “Truly incredible people who are looking for deeper meaning in their work and lives.”
The Story That Says It All
While the concept is compelling, it’s the real-life impact that defines the company. Sarah shares the story of a client, a retired surgeon in his early 70s, also a lifelong concert pianist, whose life changed after the tragic and sudden loss of his wife.
“He had never really eaten dinner alone for the last 30 years,” she says.
Karma Companions suggested a simple but intentional routine: evening visits centered around shared meals.
Now, a Karma Companion joins him several nights a week. They walk his dog along the bike path, cook or order dinner together, and discuss films. Today, music fills the house again. “He had stopped playing completely,” Sarah says. “But now he’s going to have a Seder dinner and play the piano for all of the guests.”
Even more striking are the ripple effects: he’s walking more, swimming again, and enjoying time with his family in a completely different way.
“It’s one of those things where they can really reignite old passions and just help them want to live their best lives again,” she says.
A Business Built on Meaning
Though both founders still maintain ties to their original careers, Karma Companions has quickly become their primary focus.
“We spend all day, every day working on this right now,” Sarah says. And for Kat, it feels more like a calling than a 9-to-5.
“This is absolutely the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like a job.” What began as a neighborly walk has evolved into something much larger: a company built on the belief that connection is not a luxury, but essential.
Or, as their work proves daily, sometimes the most powerful care isn’t care at all. It’s companionship.
Learn more about Karma Companions at karmacompanions.com.