Have you recently observed your aging parent struggle to complete basic household activities, seeming exhausted, or refusing to socialize with friends and neighbors? While accepting that your parent is becoming older and may require greater assistance can be challenging, you do have options. You may need elderly companion care to support your loved one, particularly if they live alone and do not receive regular visits.
Fortunately, Home Care Assistance provides specialized and compassionate companion care to assist your parent with basic household duties, allowing them to remain secure and comfortable at home.
How Can Companion Care Assist?
Companion care is a non-medical service for seniors who require company and support around the house but not hands-on assistance with personal care duties like bathing, toileting, or grooming. Companion care responsibilities include:
- Laundry
- Light housekeeping
- Meal preparation
- Errands and shopping
- Appointment transportation
- Medication reminders
Professional caregivers also provide social interaction for older individuals to prevent loneliness, whether it’s just sharing a cup of coffee, going for a stroll, playing a board game, or accompanying them to a social activity outside the home.
What Are the Signs That Your Parent May Require Companion Care?
As your senior parent becomes older, they may become forgetful, slower, or hesitant to do things like standing for long periods of time or climbing stairs. They may lose their ability to perform certain daily duties, such as cooking and grocery shopping.
To assess whether you should seek and engage a professional caregiver for your loved one, look for the following signs:
Routine or habit changes
A companion caregiver can provide encouragement to help your parent continue their normal morning routine. Or, if your parent is skipping meals in favor of snacking, a companion caregiver can restore their joy in cooking and sit down for a shared meal.
No longer driving
If your mother or father is unable to drive, a companion caregiver can offer the transportation required to keep up with errands, appointments, and activities.
Forgetting to take medication
Missing medicine doses or forgetting prescriptions may indicate that your parent needs help with medication reminders.
Messy home
A companion caregiver can help with minor housework if clothes, dishes, and debris are piling up around the house.
Not keeping up personal appearance
Seniors who have lost interest in maintaining their looks may be lonely or socially isolated. Your parent may require senior care assistance if they stop brushing their hair or getting dressed for the day.
Weight fluctuations
Meal preparation can be difficult for elders, especially following the death of a spouse. As a result, individuals may forgo regular meals or turn to unhealthy snacking, perhaps leading to weight gain. If this describes your parent, a caregiver can assist in the restoration of healthy eating habits by offering a familiar face to help with meal preparation.
How Do You Begin Providing Companion Care for Your Loved One?
Contact Home Care Assistance of Greater Burlington to organize a no-cost, no-obligation in-home evaluation if you believe your parent would benefit from companion care. A care coordinator will meet with you and your parent to discuss goals and answer questions.
