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What is Companion Care - And What It Isn't
Companion care is one of those terms that sounds self-explanatory until you try to define it precisely - and then the edges turn out to be more important than most people at first assume. Getting clarity on what companion care is and what it distinctly isn't, matters enormously for anyone trying to arrange the right support for someone they care about.

Companion care is non-medical care focused on assisting the individual with daily life tasks and providing companionship to those who live alone or who are unable to interact with others due to illness. Companion carers can spend time with people who live alone in their homes, sharing meals, visiting for conversations, accompanying the individual to their appointments, helping with the tasks of the home and even just providing the company of another individual to prevent the individual from becoming isolated from others.

Companion care does not cover personal care. Personal care includes activities such as bathing people, assisting with medication and helping people with mobility issues. These services are often regulated by the government and require different qualifications for those performing these tasks.

The distinction between these types of care is one that is often ignored in discussions of home care. However, it is one that is important, as there are people who would benefit from companion care but not from personal care. For instance, people who are socially isolated and whose contact with other people has reduced, are likely to benefit from companion care.