Do you feel like you have been spending too much time alone and are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the loneliness? Are you concerned about your loved one spending too much time alone and how this could affect them? Are you very busy or always on the run and wish you had more time to dedicate to keeping your loved one company? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you or your loved one might definitely benefit from companion care. In this article, I will go over what a companion is, what they can do and how they might be helpful to you or your situation.
What is Companion Care?
A companion caretaker is a form of care that offers non-medical services. Their role is similar to that of home health aides, minus the more hands-on tasks of helping with the 6 ADLs or Activities of Daily Living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and etc.
The main goal of elderly companion care is to provide supervision and emotional support. They are there to offer company so you or your loved one do not feel alone and have someone to interact with and build a friendship with. However, they can also help with other tasks such as:
Light housekeeping
Dishes or laundry
Preparing meals
Supervision and keeping in touch with family members to report changes or concerns
Entertainment such as playing board games, puzzles, looking through photo albums, etc.
Driving and helping with errands such as grocery shopping
Driving and accompanying to appointments
Why Companion Care?
Perhaps one of the main benefits of companion care is that, as humans, we often do not enjoy being alone long term. This can happen to individuals of any age. Being alone for too long can be rather overwhelming and gloomy. The AARP states that more than 42 million Americans “identify as lonely”.
As individuals age, they often become frustrated that they are not able to perform the same tasks as they once did. The oncoming frustration along with being alone can have damaging effects on individuals’ physical and mental health.
Loneliness can lead to stress, which can contribute to anxiety and depression. These conditions can also contribute to physical illness such as cardiovascular disease, as stress is one of the most harmful things to the human body.
Therefore, those who stay socially active and have someone to interact with are more likely to show less signs of stress, anxiety and depression, and overall feel more happy and uplifted through a time of transition.
Some advantages of an in-home companion caregiver:
A companion can be there to offer supervision for safety purposes such as preventing falls, but they are also a friend to you or your loved one.
A companion can offer great emotional support by being there to have conversations, listen and tell stories, play games, go on walks, watch movies, etc. This would be great for those who are healthy and do not need much medical attention. Having a companion around helps to maintain their health and could cut down on their need for medical attention.
In addition to this, a homemaker companion is also super helpful for the families of individuals, as they are there to observe any changes with the individuals that can indicate a medical concern or something that should be checked out. They can then inform the family members and nurse supervisor so a decision can be made as to whether or not it’s of further concern. This is especially helpful to busy family members who may live in another state or are just too busy to be around daily.
Overall, a companion is there to offer support through a challenging time in the lives of individuals. They can offer kindness and compassion and can greatly touch the lives of those that they accompany.
Here at Unified Pledge we are proud to offer companion services. If this seems like something that would be favorable for you or your loved one, you can schedule a free consultation with us to discuss your situation and determine if homecare services are a good fit for you!
Hiring professionals from Unified Pledge comes with the following advantages:
Level II FBI background checks of all staff
Driving history checks
Companions, health aides, LPNs are our direct employees and not independent contractors
Constant communication to patients, family, and care team
Registered Nurse supervision is ongoing with every care plan
Contact us today for a free consultation by Supervisory Nurse at 561-910-8770.
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