Companion Care Services – Companion care can be offered on an informal or formal basis. Some aging adults have close friends who stop by occasionally to offer assistance and help them deal with daily household tasks. Others live in apartments and receive assistance from neighbors or elderly parents. Still others may find themselves isolated and unable to seek out such services. In addition, some seniors may choose companion care over traditional health care because they do not wish to become dependent upon another individual or the expertise of another health care provider.
What Companion Care Services Can Offer Seniors
Companion care can be offered through either an in-home situation or an extended care situation. It can also be offered as part of a comprehensive senior care plan, which can include assistance with both routine household tasks as well as more complicated tasks associated with advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. For example, if a senior adult lives alone and needs assistance with shopping, cooking, bathing, medication reminders or transportation to appointments, a companion care service can help that person to retain their independence while receiving the assistance they need.
Although companion care services aim to provide assistance to seniors with the goal of relieving stress and helping them maintain a level of independence, they do not offer medical or surgical services. If someone in your life has a condition that requires medical attention, make sure that your loved one is aware of all of the options available to them and the pros and cons of each before making a decision regarding treatment. Family members should be encouraged to be honest about their feelings regarding the type of help needed. This way, the elderly adult’s loved ones are not left hanging when necessary, such as when a beloved relative has to spend time in the hospital due to a health emergency. Elderly adults often fear leaving their homes but having the peace of mind that their loved ones are safe and happy can make the difference between struggling and thriving.