Types of Assistance

Senior Companions provide many types of assistance to clients. Assignments may consist of a variety of tasks that are individually agreed upon by the companion and the client. Great care is taken to match clients with the Senior Companions who can best provide the assistance needed. The lists below are not comprehensive of the assistance Senior Companions may provide.

Personal Care Assistance

• Feeding
• Dressing
• Grooming
• Walking
• Getting out of bed
• Getting to the bathroom
• Medical/ physical therapy and/or monitoring medication
• Getting to the doctor or nurse for treatment
• Reality orientation/awareness
• Exercise and recreation
• Preparing food and meal plans
• Doing light grocery shopping, labeling, and organizing food
• Providing health or nutrition information
• Accompanying a client to a nutrition site

Companionship Assistance

• Providing companionship through talking, listening, playing cards and games
• Being cheerful to encourage a happier client
• Providing peer support
• Supporting contact with client’s family and friends
• Accompanying a client to a recreational or social event
• Writing letters, read, or fill out forms
• Providing information about community services and the eligibility for services
• Helping clients receive a needed service (Ex. food stamps, visiting nurse, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Medicare, etc.)
• Bringing unmet needs to the attention of community leaders, volunteer station staff, or other care providers

Household Assistance

• Doing light housekeeping
• Doing light gardening
• Assisting with money management or helping budget funds
• Making non-strenuous home repairs/weatherization improvements

Respite Care

A Senior Companion may provide a break for a client's regular caregiver from the constant responsibility of being a caregiver.