What is a Personal Companion?
A long life is something that many of us aspire to. However, aging comes with various challenges. These include completing simple tasks such as getting dressed and moving around your home. While families can step in and help, there are instances where families aren’t able to meet all their aging loved one’s needs. If ensuring that you can continue to provide a good quality of life for your aging loved one is important for you and your family, you may want to consider hiring a personal companion.
Personal Companion Meaning
There are various options for caring for an elderly loved one. These include having them reside in a facility specializing in the care of the elderly or providing them with in-home care. Private companions are professionals that can help support in-home care for the aging. Unlike healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses or physical therapists, these caregivers are not responsible for providing medical care to the elderly. Their services are instead meant to meet the mental, emotional and social needs of those under their care.
Caregivers fill a crucial gap in the in-home care of aging individuals. They help them maintain a good quality of life within the comfort of their own homes by helping them to stay active and lead an independent life. The elderly benefit from the empathetic one-on-one assistance and interactions. They get specialized support to meet their specific needs without sacrificing their independence.
It isn’t just the elderly that benefit from the support provided by the caregiver. The family members also enjoy the support provided by these professionals. They can get breaks or be able to focus on other areas of their lives knowing that their loved one is in good hands.
What are Companions?
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the care companion meaning. This is because there are different levels of care that the elderly can receive while they continue to live in the comfort of their homes. While the duties of a personal care companion will vary depending on the company, state and the scope of care required by the family, there are three main duties that are common for these caregivers.
- Companionship
It is not uncommon for the aging to experience loneliness, anxiety and depression as they age. They may also experience isolation from not being able to go out to meet people or perform tasks. Professional caregivers provide the elderly with social engagement. This can be in various forms including accompanying them on outings, playing their favorite games with them, reading their favorite books to them or simply talking with them.
- Personal care
Many elderly individuals lose the ability to perform day to day tasks such as getting dressed. A private companion can help to boost the quality of life of an elderly individual by assisting them with these tasks. They can provide a wide variety of services including running errands, light housekeeping, assistance with personal hygiene tasks such as getting dressed and brushing teeth as well as meal planning.
- Non-medical care
Personal caregivers are not licensed or certified medical professionals. They therefore cannot provide medical care such as making diagnoses. However, they can provide support services such as administering medication, supervision and monitoring, assisting with mobility and diet reminders.
The Cost of Caregiving Services
The cost of these services varies from one state to another as well as from one service to another. The costs also vary depending on the level of care or services required by the family. The national average hourly wage for a professional in-home caregiver is $32.
If you’re interested in providing care for your elderly loved one don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, Companion Care inc. We’d be glad to discuss your needs with you.