As we age, we may require more than just medical care and support. Sometimes, vulnerable adults simply need to see a friendly face throughout the day, spend time outside the house, or have a chat over a nice cup of tea. Companionship care is designed to fill this need and help you remain comfortable, happy and independent at home.
Companionship care is essential for staving off loneliness and isolation, especially when loved ones lead hectic schedules or live too far away for regular visits. Today, we’ll explore how you can choose the right companionship carer for your loved one.
What Is Companionship Care?
Companionship care is a non-medical form of care, focused on meeting a person’s social or emotional needs rather than only physical and personal requirements. A companionship carer is exactly what the name alludes to: a companion.
Recipients of companion care may need a simple, friendly conversation from their support worker. This can offer an essential dose of emotional support, helping the individual feel listened to, catered for, and less alone.
Companionship comes in all shapes and sizes, depending on the recipient’s personal preferences and routine. Some may find companionship in playing board games and puzzles, while others may find it when out and about in nature.
Depending on your loved one’s current needs and wishes, companionship carers can also assist with simple household tasks, including cooking and cleaning, help run errands, and transport to and from appointments.
What Services Does Companionship Care Provide?
At Independent People Homecare, we tailor our services to meet the unique needs of each of our clients. This means that our companion care can fit whatever services your loved one requires, from simple emotional support to complex, ongoing personal care.
Examples of services our live-in carers can provide include:
- Cooking nutritious meals: Our carers can help with meal planning, shopping and preparation to ensure healthy, nutritious meals are served throughout the day.
- Light housework: Carers can help with light household chores, including washing up, vacuuming, laundry, ironing and general cleaning.
- Accompaniment on outings: If your loved one is nervous about leaving the house alone, our carers can accompany them on trips, appointments and even holidays.
- Encouragement to continue hobbies: Our carers encourage clients to continue their hobbies by engaging in them together for daily enrichment.
- Daily monitoring: We can provide simple symptom and general wellness monitoring to ensure your loved one remains in a stable condition.
- Mobility assistance: Live-in care can provide peace of mind to individuals and their family members, reducing the risk of falls and hospital admissions.
- Round-the-clock companionship: Live-in care provides consistent, compassionate care from a trained carer who has the time to focus solely on your loved one.
How to Choose a Companionship Care Provider
When selecting the best care provider for your loved one, several factors should be considered. Carers aren’t always suitable for every client, so taking the time to research each candidate is an important step not to overlook.
Here are some of our most important practical tips for choosing a companionship carer:
- Consider your loved one’s specific needs:
Live-in companionship care can be offered as is, or you may choose to include extra care services in your care plan, such as personal support and daily monitoring. Is your loved one a homebody, or do they need a carer with a driver’s license to take them out?
Considering your loved one’s needs and what they expect to gain from their care arrangement will help you create the most beneficial care plan possible.
- Check experience and training:
As companionship care is non-medical, some may think experience and training aren’t necessary. All of our carers at Independent People Homecare have undergone important training in communication, and know what to do in case of an emergency. Experience is a plus for any client seeking compassionate round-the-clock support.
- Ask for references and past client testimonials:
Make sure the agency or self-employed carer you choose is licensed, registered and insured to provide compassionate care. Independent People has been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), citing that our service is ‘performing well and meeting expectations’.
- Continuity of care:
Live-in care ensures your loved one is supported by the same carer each day, helping them build a strong and trusting relationship that feels more familial than transactional. Ensure that you select a provider committed to providing continuity of care for as long as possible.
- Consider compatibility between carer and client:
Sometimes, pairings are more compatible than others. Utilize trial periods to ensure the carer’s personality is compatible with your loved one. Consider skills important to your loved one, such as communication, empathy, patience and a good sense of humour.
Questions to Ask Companionship Care Providers
When interviewing potential care providers, there are several questions you and your loved one can ask to make sure you’re getting a good, insightful idea of their carers’ work and personality.
Common questions to ask include:
- What are the training and qualifications of your carers? Is training provided on a regular basis to keep their skills up-to-date?
- Are carers vetted?
- Are regular carers assigned? How are carers matched to ensure compatibility?
- Are specific health conditions covered in a companionship carer’s training?
- How far in advance do we need to request a schedule change or cancel a visit?
- What is the procedure for emergencies?
- Are your services flexible? Can changing care needs be accommodated as time goes on?
- If we’re not happy with the standard of care, how much notice do we have to give?
- How will you communicate with us?
You should also ask about any specific requirements your loved one has for their carer, such as a deeper knowledge and experience in dementia care.
Understanding Costs of Companionship Care
One of the primary factors in choosing a care provider is the cost of companionship care. Get a clear breakdown of costs from each companionship care provider by working with them to create a tailored live-in care plan for your loved one’s specific needs and level of care required.
There are several questions you can ask each care provider to guide their care service, thoroughness and professionalism. These questions include:
- What is the cost of the care my loved one currently needs? Will this change in the future?
- How frequently will you or the carer bill us?
- What payment methods can be used?
How Can Independent People Homecare Help You Find the Right Carer?
We pride ourselves on matching our clients with the right DBS-checked, fully trained carer, who will fit well into your home and routine. We’ll take your loved one’s interests and passions into consideration when looking for their perfect live-in companion.
Our bespoke carers are carefully matched with clients only after we’ve shown you their profiles and asked for your feedback. You are free to decide whether you believe the carer we’ve chosen is a good match or not.
After choosing yes, we will provide them with your contact details to facilitate a formal introduction. If you choose no, we’ll continue looking for another suitable candidate.
At Independent People Homecare, we believe that compassion is the cornerstone of quality home care and a critical factor in selecting the best home care service. Compassion fosters an empathetic relationship between the carer and the client, which is why we only work with carers who are committed to providing compassionate care.
Deciding on a Companionship Care Provider
After all your research and conversations with potential home care providers, you’ll be able to make your choice. Consider how each provider stood out to you with the following questions:
- Have they responded and worked with you with warmth and understanding?
- Did they display compassion, kindness and reliability?
- Did they consistently meet your criteria throughout your valuation process?
Choosing a compassionate care provider is not an easy feat, but through your research and evaluation, you’ll have chosen the best home care provider for your family and loved ones, their values, needs and circumstances. Trust your instincts to choose the best possible quality of care for your loved one.
We Are Here to Support You
If you’re unsure about the type of care your loved one may need, our team can help. Independent People Homecare offers live-in care that is supportive, trustworthy and fully personalised. Our carers are carefully matched to each person, so your loved one receives support from someone who suits their personality and routines.
Call us today on 0800 471 4741 for a friendly chat about your situation. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand what level of support might be right for your family.