Companion Care

Small changes in your loved one’s daily routine can be easy to overlook at first, but they often signal a need for extra support. At Visiting Angels Tulsa, our companion care services with our certified HHAs, CNA's & LTCAs offer a practical, non-medical way to address these concerns.

Signs Your Loved One May Need a Supportive Presence

As your loved one ages, their concerns are often not major events.Instead, they may look like neglecting self-care, falling behind on household tasks, skipping meals, feeling increasingly lonely, or no longer being able to drive safely. Over time, this can result in a lower quality of life and potentially more serious concerns such as cognitive decline or depression.

There are many early warning signs that your loved one might benefit from companion care before more serious concerns develop. These include:

• Changes in weight
• Neglecting light housekeeping tasks
• No longer able to drive safely
• Changes in routine
• No longer attending social events
• Neglecting personal care
• Missing medication doses

The Support System They Need and Deserve

One of the best ways to reduce the risks associated with isolation is to encourage your loved one to build meaningful social connections with others and their community. This might mean gatherings with friends, volunteer opportunities, or religious services. However, for some seniors, this may not be easy to accomplish. In that case, having a dedicated companion caregiver can help your loved one in more ways than one.

A companion caregiver’s daily visits are designed to provide:

• Meaningful social connection and engaged with others and the world
• Predictable routine for a sense of security and consistency
• Advocacy and observation to monitor mental, emotional, social, and physical wellness changes

What Services Do Companion Caregivers Provide?

Companion caregivers provide a variety of non-medical services to seniors. This level of care does not include more hands-on care, like bathing, dressing, or feeding. Instead, it focuses on providing support that enhances your loved one’s quality of life and sense of independence. These options help reduce loneliness by giving caregivers time to talk with your loved one, participate in activities together, and assist with light housekeeping or transportation. Below are a few of the services provided by companion caregivers:

• Meal preparation
• Appointment scheduling
• Activity or gathering scheduling
• Errands and shopping
• Light housekeeping
• Emotional support and socialization

Why Starting Care Early Matters

During the early stages of aging, seniors’ concerns might seem small, slightly inconvenient, or even insignificant. You may feel like your loved one is managing well, even though small changes are starting to appear. However, when left unaddressed, these things can result in more serious concerns that may eventually require a higher level of care. Many of these might be the result of loneliness, isolation, or a feeling that their independence is being restricted.

Companion care can help reduce the risk of more serious concerns by stimulating socialization through regular interaction and engagement. With regular socialization early on, those risks can decrease. Your loved one will also form meaningful connections with their caregiver through regular conversation, shared activities, and consistent companionship.

If your loved one’s needs change, their care plan can always be changed appropriately. In fact, starting your loved one with companion care before major concerns develop can allow them to get used to having someone help them with various issues they have. This often makes potential future transitions smoother for everyone involved.

Start a Conversation About Companion Care Today

Taking action at this stage can help older adults maintain their independence while creating a more consistent and supportive daily routine. Through companion care with our certified HHAs, CNA's & LTCAs, they’ll form meaningful connections, receive care that benefits their needs, and experience an easier way to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Start a conversation with our Tulsa team today by calling 918-609-5600 to explore companion care options that fit your loved one’s needs.