Elder Companions

What Elder Companions Do and How They Help?

Elder companions — sometimes called home companions, who also cater to a younger population — do just what the name implies: provide company for people who live alone, especially those who are homebound because of frailty or dementia. Most importantly, these companions function as an extra set of hands, eyes, and feet to the person you care for when you can’t be there.

Specifically, most companions can assist with the following:

  • Meal preparation
  • Light housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Grocery shopping
  • Errands

How they help

Elder companions are ideal for those who spend much of their time alone and require some assistance with basic daily tasks. Family members can work or handle other activities — or simply take a few hours of respite — while their loved one has company and some supervision. Companion care also provides valuable social benefits, decreasing isolation and improving quality of life. Warm relationships are often formed when a consistent companion is on the job — a boon for both the companion and the person he or she visits.

What they cost

Cost can range from free services provided by local volunteers to between $10 to $25 per hour for help arranged through an in-home care agency, depending on the type of care needed, time of day, location, and services provided.

How to get started

You can find companions on your own in much the same way you’d find a babysitter: by talking to neighbors, friends, or family members. Or you can try these options:

  • Area Agencies on Aging.Trained staff at your local Area Agency on Aging can usually provide referrals for local help.
  • Local newspapers.Try placing an ad briefly describing your needs in a local newspaper.
  • Local high school students.Contact area high school counselors. College-bound students often need community service experience and are available to provide some care and company during afternoons and evenings.

Originally written by,

Paula Spence Scott

Source:

https://www.caring.com/articles/caregivers-guide-to-elder-companions