Home care is an excellent alternative to nursing home living for seniors who require assistance and want to remain at home. Thankfully, companion care services are available to ensure their safety and well-being. If you’re in the West Houston area and find yourself asking, “What is companion care?” or “Is there companion care near me?”, Assisting Hands West Houston has the answers you need.
What is Companion Care?
Simply put, companion care is a type of long-term care that focuses on providing companionship and personal care. These caregivers can also do some light housekeeping, provide transportation, run errands and accompany a senior in light exercise. They ensure the senior can go through day-to-day tasks safely.
Home companion care is the most common solution for older adults living at home who need some assistance to ensure their safety. These individuals come to the client’s home on a prearranged schedule. Companion care can also include live-in companions who stay with the person receiving care.
Companions can be family members or professional caregivers. Assisting Hands West Houston offers companion and live-in senior care. We’re happy to help your loved ones enjoy life at home with trained caregivers.
When is Companion Care Needed?
Companion care is needed when a senior wants to live at home but isn’t able to perform many day-to-day tasks on their own safely. Two common reasons for needing companion care are dementia or conditions that result from sudden medical emergencies. A companion can also be helpful for any individual who experiences isolation and loneliness. This study from AARP shows that many older Americans are feeling lonely, and loneliness has been linked to higher risks for heart attacks, dementia and strokes.
Signs a family member or loved one needs companion care include:
- Frequent falls
- Loss of motor skills
- An unmaintained home
- Changes in behavior and mental state
Living at home has many benefits, and is often preferred by seniors and loved ones over a nursing home. However, the risks of living at home multiply as people age, which is why companion care for seniors is so helpful.
How Companion Care Works
Companions will stay with a client for part of the day or 24 hours, depending on how much coverage you believe your loved one needs. After an assessment, a care plan is created that can include the following:
- Personal care
- Transportation and errand services
- Medication reminders
- Meal preparation
- Light housekeeping
- Overnight care
Besides helping with daily activities, companions can develop friendships with the client and provide emotional support. Many seniors only want a listening ear or someone to join them for games, watching a movie or taking a walk outside. Senior companion care can include all of these and more.
Benefits of Companion Care
Having a personal touch goes a long way, especially if the person receiving care feels isolated from their community. Companions, especially trained ones, can provide professional care while offering friendship and emotional support. They aren’t only there to clean houses or drive clients around, they can be genuine friends.
Hiring a companion also lets family members of the client ensure their loved one’s safety. Family members can spend time on activities they enjoy knowing their relative is receiving high-quality professional care. Home care can result in improved quality of life.
How Assisting Hands West Houston Can Help
If you live in the West Houston and Katy areas and found us by searching for “companion care near me” or “companion care Houston,” Assisting Hands West Houston can help. Our caregivers are trained, licensed, and insured. They can provide the care your loved one needs and befriend them simultaneously. Call us at (281) 369-5858 or message us by clicking on the chat box on the right.
FAQs
What is companion care?
Companion care is a form of non-medical care that ensures older adults can live at home safely while enjoying another person’s company and friendship.
When is companion care needed?
When a person cannot live safely at home or maintain the house’s cleanliness, companion care should be considered.
How does companion care work?
Companion care allows seniors to remain at home, whether that’s in their own house, a family member’s home, rehab, independent living, or assisted living. Caregivers are scheduled for as long as needed, during the day and/or night, ensuring the client’s safety at home. They provide emotional support and offer peace of mind to the family.
