Companion care in Dacula allows older adults to maintain their independence by providing assistance, support and companionship throughout their day. Care Pros provide a variety of services ranging from conversation to running errands to preparing meals or performing house chores.
Older adults are not trying to Fill their day with activities. In fact, many older adults enjoy being by themselves. So we ask is there something in your day that has made your weekday more difficult?
What about your weekday has made you more isolated?
When coming up with a care plan, I prefer to analyze what the average day looks like for the older adult as opposed to coming up with a long list of potential services.
For example, if there are no services being performed to assist with meal preparation, and the older adult doesn’t have the energy to prepare a meal, then meal assistance would be beneficial. However, if an older adult is not able to leave the house to get the groceries and that is creating a burden on the older adult, then that errand would need to be prioritized.
Routine is very important for older adults, and we try to accommodate and respect those routines as much as we can. If we feel that a routine is dangerous or creates a burden on the older adult, then that routine should be adjusted.
A two hour companion care visit allows us to be very flexible and respectful to the older adult’s routine.
The Care Pro greets the older adult and takes an interest in their day. According to the care plan, the Care Pro assists with meal preparation and/or prepares a meal. The Care Pro and the older adult discuss what the older adult has planned for the remainder of the day.
Following the meal, there might be time to do a quick household task or run an errand. The rest of the visit is spent talking.
That is the care visit.
A care visit should not attempt to do all of the following: transport to multiple destinations, assist with errands, help with household tasks, assist with meals, help with activities, and help with household duties. Trying to do all of this can be draining for the care provider and may give the older adult the impression that they are being cared for against their will.
I prefer to do a few tasks that improve the weekly routine.
What is the benefit of a reoccurring visit time over a long to do list?
Routine helps older adults structure their week and look forward to a Care Pro visiting at a particular time. Familiarity allows the older adult to plan what they want to do during the visit.
It is helpful for families to see parts of the schedule in advance to help them plan around activities for which professional support is needed. If a parent’s schedule shows company for that time, the parent may not need a Care Pro to occupy the time. In fact, the Care Pro should not be expected to occupy the time that the family member is unable to provide support.
Practicality should be the guide for creating the schedule.
For a person who is alone all day but who is able to take care of herself, it may not be necessary to create a Care Plan to provide support all day. The plan may focus on helping the adult with an activity that she enjoages in, and then enabling her to have the remaining time to do as she wishes.
Being alone all day is not always bad for a person.
How do you respond to a person who does not want your company?
Most of the time, you should believe a person when she says he does not want your company.
Not everyone needs to be entertained all the time. An older person may want to do things on her own, such as go out, watch television, or do nothing at all. A person may not want to do something you have planned for her. A Care Pro should not try to control what the person does or tries to initiate activities. The Care Pro should be available to help the person do things that she wants to do and not try to control or dominate the person during the visit. The care Pro should not tell the person what to do or try to control how the person spends her time.
Assuming that a companion is someone with whom you carry on endless conversations is also something to avoid. A true companion is someone who allows you to decide how closely you wish to share company. It may mean working side by side on a shared project or purpose. A companion may simply mean a patient listener. It may mean that you need to be left completely alone.
Your care plan must be based on an understanding of the individual. It can not be based on your preconceived notions on how an elderly person should spend their day.
Each family member may have a different understanding of the care requirements of the parent or older family member. It may be the case that one family member may think that the older adult needs to be more “active” while the older adult may prefer a more sedentary lifestyle. Unless there are concerns for the older adult’s wellbeing or safety, the older adult’s preferences and wishes must be the focal point.
There are times when a change from your regular way of doing things may warrant concern. A person may have a good reason to stop attending social or family functions. If a person who is otherwise an active participant in social and family activities including meal preparation and outing becomes homebound and stops taking part in social and family functions, it may be prudent to look beyond companion-ship for the reason for this change. The same may be the case for a person who previously was able to manage household chores and other everyday activities but has begun to have consistent and significant difficulty performing these activities.
Non-medical home care employees are not in a position to diagnose the reason for a change in their client’s condition. If a client or their caregiver identifies a concern, it may be appropriate to consult an appropriate medical professional.
While the family finds more information about the person’s health, the Care Pro can assist with the person’s daily activities. These activities can include performing outings and giving or assisting with meals. Companion care is not the same as medical care. Medical professionals are required to assess and address changes in an individual’s health. If the family has questions about health-related changes with the individual, they should reach out to the appropriate medical professionals. The Care Pro can assist with everyday activities including errands and meals. If there are new or changing health concerns, medical professionals should be notified. The Lawrenceville Home Instead office can assist the family to create a non-medical care plan for weekday activities.
What is Companion Care?
Companion care is a service in which an individual is accompanied and cared for to perform activities. This care can be structured to give meals, perform errands, and assist with other daily tasks. Each individual is assessed to determine their needs and wants. This care can be scheduled for as little or as many days a week as needed. To schedule companion care, the family should contact the Home Instead office to discuss a care plan.
Will my parent’s Care Pro be required to keep them occupied for the entire visit?
Care Pros are required to engage in companionship activities for a duration that is reasonable and in line with the wishes of the client. Some clients may wish to have a conversation for the duration of the visit while others may prefer to engage in only a few activities throughout the visit. The companion should be mindful of the client’s wishes and pace throughout the visit.
Will my parent’s Care Pro run errands or help with meal preparation?
This will depend on the terms of the client’s Care Plan. Errands may include assisting a client with shopping or other activities outside of the home. The Care Plan may also permit the Care Pro to provide assistance to a client with meal preparation. Prior to initiating care, the family should have a discussion to establish the activities for which they will require assistance. Our broader home care services may also help families understand the types of non-medical support available.
What should I do if my parent states they do not require companionship?
Explain to your parent that companions may be able to assist them with activities they do not wish to do. This may include activities such as shopping or errands. A companion may assist the client with preparing a meal or assisting the client with any other activity that the client may wish to do but does not wish to do alone.
Will a Care Pro be able to assist with or address a client’s health concerns?
A Care Pro will not be able to assist with health related concerns. Health concerns should be directed to the client’s health care provider.
What happens when weekday help isn't available?
Sometimes families opt for companion care when weekly help isn’t available on weekdays. Our Care Pros can provide assistance and support on agreed upon weekdays and weekday hours. Our goal is to provide support to families and help bridge the weekly gap for the older adult.
Does the thought of weekly unmanageable long days at home for an adult in Dacula concern you? Our Home Instead team serving Lawrenceville can provide more information on Care Plans. We can help guide families on what to do in order to manage weekly concerns and help ease the daily routine.
About the Author
Matt Cohn has spent more than 25 years helping older adults and their families find the right support to remain safe and comfortable at home. He has worked closely with families, caregivers, and care professionals through many of the decisions that come with aging and in-home care.
