Companion Care
What is companion care?
Companion care can vary greatly from person to person and is carefully tailored to each individual’s specific needs and goals. At its core, companion care is physical and emotional support for an adult, whether that person is elderly, ill, disabled, or has other unique special needs.
This will look different for every person; it typically includes social support and general assistance with daily living activities. Please note that in-home companion care is separate from medical care. While caregivers can help clients take their medications, accompany them to their doctor appointments, relay important messages and information that the doctor has shared, do memory exercises, and stay active, they are not medical professionals and cannot treat or diagnose medical conditions. Please note that we do place certified nursing assistants (CNA) and home health aides (HHA); please contact us for additional information on those services.
What are the benefits of companion care?
Companion care can have a myriad of benefits. Firstly, there is the physical day-to-day support a companion can offer – this can include checking the mail, running errands, assisting with exercise routines, making sure things stay organized in the home, accompanying the elderly to their doctor appointments and relaying important information that the doctor has shared. Taking these small tasks off your elderly loved one’s to-do list can greatly ease anxiety and stress, while making sure the household runs smoothly.
Beyond the physical support, a companion can offer invaluable social interaction and care. Companions can help their clients with hobbies, accompany them to museums, and other social gatherings, as well as just have compassionate and thoughtful conversations. Loneliness is a huge problem for the elderly and those with limited mobility who live alone; companion care can help to ease this problem and drastically improve quality of life.
How does companion care work?
There are a few ways to approach home care services, depending on the needs of the client. Clients can choose between live-in or live-out care. A live-out companion, whether full-time or part-time, might spend hours with the client several days a week; they will chat with the client, check on their well-being, assist with hobbies and errands, and accompany them to any events or appointments. Live-in care is better for those who need more full-spectrum support, have sleep issues, or who might need other assistance during the night.