Companionship

Companionship

Humans are wired for social contact.

Some more than others but we all want to feel seen and heard. When we lose key relationships that have sustained us for decades the loss is difficult to fill and it’s harder to meet new people to make new friends. Caregivers fill some small part of that loss.

Getting to know new people

can be both exciting and exhausting. Continuity in the caregivers who see someone is essential so people can form bonds and trust one another. This becomes even more important in situations where there is a degree of dementia and/or paranoia involved.

Companionship is an implied component of any home care service, to the extent that people want to engage and can include:

• Escorts for appointments & outings
• Shared activities like cribbage or walks
• Daily phone calls & reminders

Don’t underestimate the importance of social connection. We frequently see people who are severely depressed and failing to thrive in large part due to loneliness. Our vitality and quality of life often improve significantly once there are people we know and look forward to seeing routinely.