Companionship
Life is not to be lived alone
Companionship care at home is when a professional caregiver comes and lives with you in your home to provide you with round-the-clock companionship, care and support so you can live well with choice and dignity.
Your companion will focus on helping you to live independently, doing all the things you used to with highly personalized and flexible companionship care. For many, it is the company that matters – a listening and sympathetic ear, a person to share thoughts and feelings with, someone to help us feel reassured or to build our confidence in how we live our lives. For others, it is about having someone there on hand as and when you need them. Companionship care at home can really help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation experienced in later life.
What does companionship include
A trusted and dedicated companion
A perfectly matched care team is there to provide all the companionship you need – as and when you need it. This can involve simply providing company, helping, and taking part in activities, helping you to maintain hobbies, going away with you on holiday or driving and chaperoning you to appointments or social events. Whilst the caregiver will be on hand to provide all your companionship needs, they will also use discretion and be very aware when you need your own space.
Social and emotional support
A care plan will outline all your social interests and preferences, and the carer will help you to maintain all your activities and hobbies, both in and out of your home. Your caregivers will provide you with companionship support and help you to continue to feel connected to your family, friends and local community facilitating any social events or gatherings you wish to host or attend.
Medications administration and management
The caregiver is trained to proactively and efficiently administer medications to ensure your greatest health and wellbeing.
Domestic and household support
A professional caregiver will ensure your cleaning regime and domestic household tasks are maintained, so you can live-in your home the way you always have. The carer will help with household administration and will be happy to run errands out of the home.
Companion aided care
Personal Care or companion aided care is a broad term used for several tasks to help you keep your personal hygiene and appearance, including washing, dressing, grooming and toileting. Whilst companionship care is focused on providing company and reassurance, your caregiver will be trained to deliver personal care should you need it.
Hobbies and holidays
With the support of a caregiver, an illness or injury does not have to stop you from doing what you love. Your carer can either drive you or go with you in taking part in any activities you enjoy, including attending social groups, classes or hobbies. They can even accompany you on holidays in the USA and abroad so that you can get the most out of the experience.
Meal planning and cooking
Your companion will help you to plan your meals according to your dietary requirements, nutritional needs, and personal preferences, including cooking your favorite meals and shopping for
your groceries.
Costs of companionship care
The cost of care for people wishing to receive live-in companionship care at home service is often cheaper than the total cost of domiciliary care at home. When a person is receiving hourly companionship care, provided by a domiciliary care provider it is likely that you will be charged extras for additional services to support the person’s specific care needs should your care and support needs increase, for example, dementia or Parkinson’s, on top of the cost of a caregiver visiting. These extras add up and can become costly over time and may exceed that of an inclusive live-in care service.
Companionship care at home is typically in line with – and sometimes less than – what you would pay for residential care, with the added benefit of receiving one-to-one tailored care and companionship, something that cannot be achieved in a care home.
For couples, the cost of companionship care at home is cheaper than moving into residential care where you would be expected to pay for two bedrooms and packages of care. With live-in care there is only a nominal charge for couples’ care