What is Companion Care and is it the Right Fit for You
At its core, companion care is what its name implies — companionship combined with assistance with basic housekeeping and care tasks. Companion care supports seniors so that they can remain safely and independently in the comfort of their own home. While a companion caregiver might be hired to assist an older adult with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, or laundry, their role in the senior’s life goes beyond these caregiving tasks.
Companion caregivers offer seniors emotional and social support, by engaging the senior in authentic friendship. While the laundry is running, a companion caregiver can join their client for a cup of coffee and initiate conversation or start a game with them. Companion caregivers can accompany seniors on outings, run errands with them, or drive them to doctor appointments. They become an extension to the family, and both client and the client’s family benefits from hiring a companion caregiver. In fact, many seniors report that their companion caregivers are just like another member of the family.
For many older adults, the thought of aging alone is terrifying. However, this is often the reality. According to the Institute on Aging, nearly one third of the older adult U.S. population reported living alone in the last census. This number will only continue to rise as the Baby Boomer generation crosses the threshold of the older adult category. Despite the estimated 77 million baby boomers living today, many older adults face loneliness and isolation.
There are many risk factors associated with senior isolation. From chronic illness to high blood pressure, and depression to an increased risk of mortality, senior isolation can lead to serious health consequences for older adults. However, a companion caregiver can greatly reduce these risks and provide a much-needed support system for older adults living alone. The personal link a companion caregiver provides is crucial for seniors who live alone and may be isolated from others.
In addition to supporting the needs of the senior, companion caregivers support the senior’s family as well. The needs of an aging loved one can quickly become overwhelming to the immediate and extended family members. Balancing personal commitments with caring for an aging loved one can lead to caregiver burnout. A companion caregiver takes the burden off the family and provides emotional support and relief to the family. Knowing that an aging loved one is well cared for gives family members peace of mind.
Here are a few questions to consider when asking whether it’s time to introduce a companion caregiver to your aging loved one’s life:
- Is my aging loved one at risk for isolation?
- Am I concerned about my aging loved one's ability to live safely and independently at home?
- Is the demand of home ownership becoming too much for my aging loved one?
- How is the overall health of my aging loved one? Has there been a significant change in their health in the last few months?
- Do I think that my aging loved one could benefit from consistent care in the comfort of their own home?
- Does my aging loved one need assistance with meal preparation, laundry, housekeeping, bathing, dressing, or running errands?
- Does my aging loved one seem down or depressed? How well are they connecting socially with others?
- Am I spending more and more of my personal time caring for my aging loved one, and neglecting my self or other personal/family obligations?
If you answered “yes” to most of the questions above, then companion care might be the right fit for your aging loved one. Through our years of providing senior elderly companion care services, Visiting Angels Punta Gorda has had the privilege of seeing the lives of our clients, and their families, transformed with the supportive presence of our Angel caregivers. We work with each client and their families to create a personalized plan of care that addresses their specific care needs. We also work hard to meet the demands of your schedule while remaining within your budget. We recognize that not every client is the same, nor keeps the same hours. Our personalized care plans are flexible so that as your aging loved one’s needs change over time, we can adapt their care plan to address their changing needs. If you are ready to learn more about how we can be a great fit for your aging loved one, please contact us today by calling 941-347-8288 Punta Gorda or 239-226-1620 Lee County.