A companion caregiver is a type of non-medical professional who provides emotional support and household assistance to people who live independently but need social companionship and help with everyday tasks.
Companion caregivers work with people from all types of backgrounds and age groups, including seniors, veterans, and adults or children with disabilities. By offering social connection and sharing in meaningful activities, these companion caregivers empower their clients to retain more of their independence while enjoying a higher quality of life.
Read on to learn more about the benefits and duties of a companion caregiver, along with FAQs about how companion care works.
What Does a Companion Caregiver Do?
Companion caregivers provide both practical assistance at home and companionship. This type of caregiving arrangement allows clients to remain comfortably in their own homes, while still receiving the benefits of household help and social engagement.
Common companion caregiver duties include:
- Provide social and emotional support: By providing a kind, compassionate presence who’s there to listen and be supportive, caregivers can help reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation.
- Assist with everyday household tasks: Companion caregivers can perform a wide range of household tasks, including light housekeeping, doing laundry, and preparing meals.
- Offer transportation and errand assistance: Along with completing errands, such as picking up prescriptions or groceries, caregivers can provide transportation to and from doctor appointments and social events.
- Conduct safety and well-being check-ins: Companion caregivers can conduct safety checks, provide supervision during home visits, watch for condition changes, and keep family updated about new developments.
What Doesn’t a Companion Caregiver Do?
Since being a companion is a non-medical role, caregiving services are focused instead on light daily assistance and social engagement.
Types of services companion caregivers don’t provide:
- Medical care: Only licensed healthcare professionals, such as registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs), have the training to safely administer skilled nursing care.
- Personal care: While companions offer light assistance with various chores and tasks, such as meal preparation and transportation, companion care doesn’t include hands-on assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing or toileting.
- Financial or medical planning: All financial planning should be guided by tax or legal professionals, such as CPAs and elder law attorneys.
How Companion Care Improves Independence and Quality of Life
Whether it involves full live-in support or just a quick daily visit, companion care can have a positive impact on a client’s quality of life.
On an emotional level, companion care helps clients feel less isolated and more connected to others, which can help elevate mood and decrease feelings of depression. There are also practical benefits, like being empowered to remain more independent by receiving assistance with tasks and errands.
In addition to benefiting the person who receives the care, there are also companion care benefits for family caregivers, who gain peace of mind from knowing their loved one is being helped and supported.
How Companion Care Differs from Other Types of Care
It’s important to understand what companion care services do and don’t include so that you can choose an option that makes a good fit for your loved one’s needs.
In short, companion care offers companionship plus light household assistance. It does not include personal care services, such as help with ADLs. It also does not include skilled nursing care, such as infusion therapy, wound care, medication management, and other medical care services.
Companion Caregiver FAQs
Are companion caregivers available for overnight or live-in support?
Yes. Various services across the U.S. offer overnight and live-in companion care options, including BrightStar Care®. Whether your loved one prefers limited visits or requires around-the-clock support, our compassionate companion caregivers are here to meet their evolving needs.
Can companion caregivers assist clients with pets or household organization beyond basic chores?
Companion caregivers offer assistance with various errands and household tasks, which can extend to pet care. For instance, companion caregivers can help with pet-related tasks like grooming, feeding, and transporting pets to and from veterinary appointments.
Caregivers can also assist with tasks and projects that go beyond basic household chores, from helping clients set up video chats with family members, to planning trips or playing games and puzzles with their clients.
Are companion caregivers covered by insurance or Medicare?
Companion care is a non-medical service, which means it typically won’t be covered by most private health insurance plans. However, coverage may be available through Medicare Advantage, which is also known as Medicare Part C.
Please note that companion care is not covered by Original Medicare, which is a combination of Medicare Parts A and B, or by Medicare Part D, which deals with prescription medications.
Can a companion caregiver support someone with dementia or memory loss?
A companion caregiver can offer emotional support, provide a social outlet and give a sense of comfort to a person with memory loss or dementia. They can also provide light housekeeping assistance, which may include services like meal preparation, pet care or transportation to and from errands and appointments.
As the person’s dementia progresses and their care needs change, it may become necessary to seek out additional support services, such as skilled nursing or home health aides who provide in-home memory care.
What tasks are not included in companion care?
Companion care is a non-medical service, which means it doesn’t include any form of medical care or skilled nursing. It also doesn’t include assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), which are self-care tasks like bathing or showering, getting dressed, and using the bathroom. Finally, companion care does not include any legal services or financial planning services.
Get Started with Companion Care at BrightStar Care
From seniors and veterans to adults and children with disabilities, companion care supports dignity, connection, and independence for people of all ages and backgrounds. Companion care also provides peace of mind for families, who can feel confident knowing their loved one is receiving compassionate, expert support.
Through our nationwide network of award-winning, vetted caregivers, BrightStar Care® connects families like yours with the in-home companion care you need. Learn more about what sets us apart, or contact us for a free consultation about how our caregivers can help.