Your aging loved one will benefit from various services provided either on an informal or more formal basis, by friends or local agencies or independent contractors.
Home companion care is a non-medical service that assists seniors in running errands, scheduling appointments, cleaning the house and socialization. This can significantly lessen strain on family members living far away who wish they could help their aging loved ones more.
Personal Care
Home companion caregivers provide seniors with emotional support while engaging in their favorite activities – be they taking a walk, listening to music, visiting the library, attending an event or just talking.
Home companions offer assistance with daily tasks as well as bathing and dressing assistance; however, they cannot perform medical services such as administering medication.
Home care agencies will evaluate your loved one’s needs and preferences in order to match them with an ideal home caregiver. Some purchase this service themselves or purchase long-term care insurance; other people utilize senior living facilities that offer companion care as part of their residential care program; both options may not be available in all states.
Meal Prep
Meal prep, or prepping meals to be eaten later, is a popular meal-planning technique used by seniors and can help them meet nutrition goals while enjoying their food more. Furthermore, meal prep can reduce impulse purchases that lead to food waste such as TV dinners and takeout.
Home care aides can assist seniors in meal preparation and provide companionship at meal time to make meal times more enjoyable. While meal prep poses risks to seniors with limited mobility and dexterity, an in-home caregiver can prevent slips, cuts or any other incidents in the kitchen that might lead to slips, cuts or other accidents occurring within it.
Meal preparation services from our caregivers may involve creating entire frozen meals, or component dishes which can be combined together into different recipes throughout the week. They can also assist with grocery shopping to ensure seniors have nutritious foods available for consumption.
Household Management
Home care companion services can assist your elderly loved one by running errands, picking up groceries and prescriptions, shopping for clothes and necessities as needed, scheduling appointments and keeping them active – essential activities that contribute to senior wellbeing and prevent isolation or depression.
Home care services can be paid for using private pay, long-term insurance policies or community programs. Agencies usually charge a set fee based on how many hours per week your loved one requires care from caregivers; direct hiring may save money but always check the person has passed a background check as this ensures your loved ones safety.
Transportation
Home care aides help seniors maintain mobility and remain active by providing transportation to events, gatherings with family or friends, medical appointments, therapy appointments and grocery store. They may also offer grocery escorting services.
Finding companions who can talk, walk, play games and share experiences can help reduce loneliness and isolation among older adults, which are common among many of these seniors. Engaging in conversations or playing games together may even delay dementia or Alzheimer’s from setting in.
Families looking for home caregivers have several options when hiring one: certified home care agencies conduct background checks or they can directly hire independent aides from Craigslist and social media. Both options provide flexible assistance, with caregivers ready to provide as little or as much help as they are needed.
Behavioral Support
Home care companions can assist aging adults in maintaining a sense of community as their friends and relatives move away or experience health concerns of their own. Furthermore, these caregivers offer emotional support as well as serve as reliable listening ears.
Agencies providing non-medical home care must conduct background checks and provide training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; however, clients seeking only home care companion services (not other types such as health aides or nurses) may be exempt from these requirements.
If you are seeking home care agency or independent companion services, ask those within your network for referrals. Their experience allows them to assess which agencies have high-quality companions who would best fit with your specific needs and preferences.