Social isolation can have serious adverse consequences on a senior’s health, so hiring a companion for them can help ensure they remain happy and healthy.
Companions provide friendship and assistance while light housekeeping or laundry duties may also be performed by these friendly individuals.
1. Companionship
Companionship refers to any relationship in which two individuals share mutual interests and offer companionship; its foundation lies on trust and mutual respect.
Studies demonstrate the value of companionship to our health and happiness. Aside from emotional support, it can also increase self-esteem and reduce stress levels.
Hired through an agency specializing in home care or through your local social services department. These agencies conduct background checks, assess personal needs and pair clients with compatible companions.
Companions provide older adults with essential social support. By engaging in conversation and taking walks together, companions help prevent loneliness while transporting care recipients to healthcare and therapy appointments.
2. Physical Assistance
Physical assistance can be an excellent way to support independence while improving quality of life for a loved one. This may involve helping with daily tasks like bathing and meal prep as well as transporting them to doctor appointments or running other errands.
Companions can provide another important layer of safety for seniors living alone, since they know their surroundings well enough to spot hazards like uneven floors or potential trip hazards in the home.
An at home companion may also come in handy if your loved one suffers from medical conditions that make taking medications a struggle, but need regular reminders to remain on track with their routine. They can provide regular assistance and keep their regimen intact.
3. Socialization
Companionship and socialization can be invaluable, particularly for people living alone due to age, illness, or health concerns. Socializing can bring great comfort for both participants and hosts alike. Companionship can especially assist those isolated due to illness.
Socialization refers to the practice of familiarizing individuals with social norms and customs that enable them to function successfully within society. People learn through family, teachers, peers and religious leaders on what to expect when faced with various situations and how they should behave accordingly.
As people move through life and transition into different roles, this process continues throughout life. A child might prepare to become a parent at an early age or enter the workplace as soon as a teenager matures enough.
4. Housekeeping
Housekeeping is an integral component of hospitality industry, and one effective strategy for keeping a hotel spotless is employing full time housekeepers to assist with this task. A full time staff of housekeepers will do most of the heavy lifting for you while making sure all guest rooms and public areas remain tidy on a daily basis. In order to stay organized, it is also recommended that kitchens and bathrooms be regularly tidied as well. Creating a schedule or calendar to manage this aspect will reduce stress levels while helping ensure work life balance is maintained successfully.
5. Transportation
Transportation can be one of the more challenging aspects of an at-home care plan, particularly if your loved one’s health and mobility have changed over time. Companions can provide assistance during these trips so they remain as independent as possible while helping seniors remain independent for as long as possible at home.
Many communities offer non-profit and volunteer-based services that provide medical and other forms of transportation to senior citizens unable to use public transit, either free or at a minimal cost, often including door to door service. These are great alternatives to costly taxi rides; alternatively ride sharing platforms like Lyft or Uber may allow multiple passengers to share the cost.