As our parents age, loneliness becomes a common challenge, often due to reduced opportunities for social interaction. We naturally want to ensure they receive the support they need, but for those who live far from family or have difficulty leaving their homes, daily life can feel even more isolating without regular conversation and connection.
In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know about companion care to help you determine whether it’s the right fit for your loved one.
What Is Companion Care?
Companion care services offer meaningful social interaction and emotional support for individuals who have difficulty leaving their homes. Depending on individual needs, a companion can visit daily, weekly, or monthly to spend time with your loved one.
In addition to companionship, caregivers can help your family member with activities of daily living (ADLs) like light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and meal preparation.
The Benefits of Companion Care
Companion care can offer many wonderful benefits for seniors and their families, including:
- Combating Loneliness and Isolation: Companions often become close friends to those they assist. For many people, having someone to talk to can lift their spirits and make them feel valued.
- Encouraging Physical and Mental Activity: Depending on your family member’s individual interests and preferences, a companion can organize meaningful activities, such as light exercise, puzzles, or crafts, to help them enjoy their day.
- Assistance With Activities of Daily Living: If your loved one wishes to age in place or is not yet ready to move to a senior living community, companion care services can provide valuable support with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, and light housekeeping.
- Peace of Mind for Family Members: We naturally want what’s best for our loved ones, but sometimes, we can’t be there with them physically. Whether it’s reminding them to take their medication or helping them go about their daily routine, having a companion around can provide peace of mind for both you and your parent, even when you can’t be there in person.
- Offering Family Relief: While it’s normal to want to show love and support to your aging parent, the day-to-day demands of caregiving can get overwhelming, especially for busy caregivers or caregivers without much experience. If you feel stressed or fatigued, it’s always a good idea to take some rest. A companion can provide temporary support for your parent’s needs while you take a break or attend to other obligations.
Who Is Companion Care for?
Companions provide valuable support for many older adults but are not the perfect option for everyone. Companion care is a good fit for:
- Seniors Living Alone: Older adults who live alone or far from family often lack social connections. Companion care services offer meaningful social support, which can help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation
- People With Mobility Challenges: In some cases, a companion can help with activities, including assistance with mobility, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and more. This can be particularly helpful for individuals who have trouble with getting around or independently managing activities of daily living.
- Families Needing Additional Support for Aging Loved Ones: Sometimes, family members may need temporary support for their aging parent. Companion care provides a much-needed support system, allowing families to rest and attend to other needs while knowing their loved one’s needs are being met.
Companion Care vs. Other Senior Care Options
Finding the right assistance for your loved one can be a difficult and emotional process. With so many support services available, it’s natural to feel uncertain about what’s best. Let’s take a look at how companion care compares to other common senior support services to help you decide if it’s the right support for your family member:
- Personal Care Assistance: Personal care assistance services are designed to support individuals who are mostly independent but require help with specific activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, dressing, and grooming. This type of assistance is ideal for people who may have difficulty with specific tasks but don’t require full-time medical care. While companions may provide help with ADLs in some cases, the focus is often on providing social and emotional support.
- Respite Care: Respite care services offer temporary support for individuals who are recovering from an injury or surgery. In most cases, respite care offers short-term stays for residents as caregivers take a break or attend to other responsibilities. Companion care, on the other hand, usually provides ongoing assistance for individuals needing social support.
- Adult Day Care: Adult day care centers are perfect for seniors who could benefit from a safe and supportive environment during the day. While companions often form close connections that may result in more one-on-one attention, the support offered in most adult day care communities may feel less personalized.
- In-Home Care: In-home care provides more intensive medical and personal assistance than companion care. It may include help with personal care and meal preparation, along with medical tasks like assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, medication management, and/or health monitoring. Companionship care focuses on providing social support and assistance with some activities of daily living (ADLs), while in-home care offers a great option for individuals who need more hands-on support to get through their day.
- Assisted Living: Assisted living communities provide a safe and comfortable environment for seniors who need assistance with activities like eating, bathing, and dressing. Unlike companion care, which is provided at home, assisted living provides long-term support, including 24/7 access to assistance in a community setting.
How Much Does Companion Care Cost?
On average, families pay between $20 and $30 per hour for companion care. However, costs can vary depending on the geographical location, individual needs, and your specific provider. The cost of companion care usually covers social and emotional support and any assistance with light housekeeping, meal preparation, running errands, and transportation to appointments.
Common Payment Options
Senior care costs can quickly add up, and it’s important to plan ahead of time. If you’re considering companion care for your loved one, you may be wondering how to manage the expenses.
Thankfully, there are several ways to pay for companion care, including:
- Long-Term Care Insurance: Some long-term insurance policies can help pay for in-home, non-medical support services, including companion care. However, it’s always a good idea to check your loved one’s policy to understand exactly what’s covered.
- Private Pay Options: Private pay means that you or your family will pay for the services out of pocket. This can mean using savings, pensions, or other financial resources to cover companion care costs. While this option gives families the flexibility to select a provider of their choice, it can be expensive over time.
- Financial Assistance Programs: One of the first questions families ask is, “Does Medicare cover companion care?” Unfortunately, Medicare does not typically cover non-medical services, including companion care. Medicare primarily covers health care services, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, and certain medical treatments. However, there are several other financial assistance programs available that may help with the costs of companion care. Some states offer Medicaid programs that provide funding for in-home care services for eligible seniors. Additionally, programs like the Veterans Administration (VA) benefits may provide financial support for eligible veterans and their spouses.
How to Find the Right Companion Care Service
When considering a companion for a family member, it’s important to choose a reputable caregiver who aligns with the loved one’s needs and wishes.
Here are some steps to help guide you in narrowing down your options:
- Understand Your Loved One’s Needs: Before you start looking for companion care, take some time to think about what your loved one truly needs. Understanding their needs will help you find the right level of support and ensure that the service you choose fits.
- Ask for Recommendations: One of the best ways to find a trusted companion care service is to ask others for recommendations. Talk to friends, family, or even medical professionals who may have experience with companion care. They can guide you toward some trusted options.
- Meet the Caregiver: Once you have a few options, arrange a meeting between your loved one and the caregiver. This is an important step, as it will give you a great opportunity to see how they interact. Check to make sure your parent feels comfortable and relaxed around the caregiver.
- Discuss Your Family Member’s Preferences: Have an open conversation with the caregiver about your family member’s preferences and routines. Discuss things like what time of day they prefer help, any special interests or hobbies, and any important health concerns. The more the companion knows about your loved one’s routine, the better they can provide more personalized support.
- Stay Involved: After choosing a companion care service for your family member, check in with them regularly to see how things are going. If something isn’t working or if your loved one’s needs change down the line, you can make the required adjustments.
CorsoCare: Compassionate Support, Where and How You Need It
There are many reasons a parent may need support at home. They may be living with a chronic condition, facing mobility challenges, or simply feeling safest in the home they’ve loved for years. Whatever the situation may be, having the right support in place can make a real difference in their quality of life.
If your loved one needs a caring companion or assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), CorsoCare, a trusted third-party provider, is happy to meet them right where they are — by delivering compassionate support tailored to their specific needs. To learn more about how CorsoCare can help support your family member, contact them today or give them a call at 844-679-2500.
StoryPoint Group: Here for You and Your Loved One
At StoryPoint Group communities, we understand the unique challenges that you go through when caring for your loved one — which is why we know you need all the support you can get. If you believe your family member would benefit from a senior living community, we’re here to help. Contact us or give us a call today at 1-844-275-9990 to learn more about our communities or just to say hello. We can’t wait to get to know you!
