These days’ companion care services provide convenient respite to those looking after elderly persons in their homes. Many people opt to care for their loved ones themselves, rather than have them set up in nursing homes. However, sometimes they don’t have the time or the resources to manage this all by themselves, and this is especially true in the cases of working single parents who have to look after an ageing father or mother.

Statistical projections from BLS show that the need for companion care services will go up by 46 percent within the decade leading up to 2018. Companions are professionals who work for families by assisting them with the care of elderly, disabled or ill members. They require the supervision of authorized personnel like nurses, managers, or social workers. The duties rendered by companions include a variety of activities.

Health-Related Duties

All companion care services provide fundamental health care duties in keeping with the instructions provided by the employer. Common duties under this include regularly checking the vital signs of the patient – temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure. Some need to be given prescribed medication at given times in a day, while other may need exercise according to the schedule laid out for them. Companions also assist infirmed patients with bathing and grooming, and also handle the dressing of wounds. If the patient cannot walk, then the companion helps them get from one place to another.

Companion care also involves escorting the patient to doctor’s appointments and therapy. Some companion care services include accompanying the clients to social events, games, parties, etc. Sometimes they also run errands for the client if they require something immediately, like groceries and household supplies.

Companions for the elderly stay with them while they are at home, offering company just as much as other services. They sit and talk with them, play board games, watch TV, or even read to them form a book or magazine. Some companions even provide help with conducting business affairs, organizing bills and receipts, writing out checks and business letters, and mailing the latter.

Besides being there for the elderly person they are caring for, some companions also dispense light housekeeping activities while they are in the home. This would include washing dishes, dusting, and changing the bedding of the aged person. These duties are secondary, and could be interrupted in case of an emergency.