Seniors may feel alone and isolated as friends leave town, their children grow up and pass away, and family schedules make checking on them difficult. Companion care gives loved ones peace of mind knowing their elderly relatives are being looked after and will never feel abandoned or forgotten.
Families may find companion caregivers through home care agencies, religious houses, retirement communities or private contractors. Companions do not possess medical licenses and cannot provide medical treatment or provide medical advice.
Company and Emotional Support
As seniors age, their lives often undergo substantial transformation. Friends and family may pass away, while health issues worsen; this may leave them feeling isolated and lonely.
emotional support can help them overcome these feelings and give them a sense of connection and purpose in life. One effective way is bringing them along to family functions or community events.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) can also offer valuable emotional support. A comfort pet can offer affection and companionship to older adults while also improving their mood and inspiring hope about the future. In addition, ESAs may help ease fears related to falling or having medical emergencies alone.
Help with Daily Living Activities
Many seniors who employ companion care providers pay out-of-pocket, although Medicare or long-term care insurance might cover this service. If you would like more information and assistance regarding this topic, reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging for advice and assistance.
Companions can assist your loved one with numerous daily activities, from grocery shopping and outings, meal preparation and running errands to providing transportation to doctor appointments – an invaluable service if they live alone or don’t have family nearby. Just having someone there for company can greatly increase their quality of life.
Meal Preparation
Meal preparation (or “meal prep”) refers to the practice of prepping meals ahead of time for later consumption, usually by creating large batches of food that can then be divided up and refrigerated or frozen until ready.
This service can provide seniors with healthy and nourishing meals on-hand, and may also assist those who find it challenging to prepare their own meals independently.
This can save them money from eating out, reduce wasteful food waste, and help them stick to their medication schedules more easily. Making sure that hearty and nutritional meals are available so they won’t miss meals or become dehydrated is also important in maintaining a healthier weight and managing medication doses more successfully.
Transportation
Many seniors require transportation for medical appointments, grocery store trips and social events. Companions provide this important support service and assist their care recipients to travel around town while visiting friends and family members.
Some public transportation systems provide travel instruction programs designed to familiarize elderly persons with public transit until they feel more at ease on their own. Furthermore, paratransit buses or vans may operate along similar routes to regular public transit while offering more flexible boarding/disembarking procedures.
Research your options when hiring companions for elderly loved ones. When dealing with agencies, inquire about training and background checks. Inquire from other families in the area who have hired caregivers as well.
Safety
Seniors without regular companionship find their quality of life diminishing quickly, as social isolation often leads to depression and decreased motivation, negatively impacting their health. Senior companions can provide valuable relief against feelings of isolation while encouraging participation in daily activities to remain active and stay healthy.
Beyond spending time together, caregivers can also assist seniors in shopping, running errands and attending community events; even assisting with ambulation.
Professional companions are employed by home health care agencies and required to go through background checks before being hired by individuals or families for non-medical assistance. Their primary objective is helping their clients maintain safe, clean living environments that promote health.