Holiday time can be a challenge for the elderly and their families. Whether you bring them to be with the extended family or go to be with them because it is hard to take them out of their familiar surroundings, a bit of sensitivity and planning can make the time truly joyous for all concerned. Here are some ideas for companion care for seniors in Todt Hill over the holidays.
Companion Care
Companion care holds a special place in the realm of home health care. In-home healthcare for the elderly often means home health aides who are trained to do personal care and registered nurses who perform medical care on their patients. Home health aides require certification and RNs need to pass a licensing test. Companion care is the least skilled of these three types of care. Though companion care is not licensed, that does not mean that it is the least important.
Companions perform essential care duties that relieve the loneliness, isolation, and even depression that many of the elderly feel. Some of their specific responsibilities are light housekeeping, preparing nutritious meals, companionship and conversation, accompanying their charges to appointments and social occasions, grocery shopping, and running errands. All these are essential for making seniors comfortable year-round, and especially around holiday time.
Holiday Companion Duties
Seniors need to prepare for the holidays just like everyone else. Just because the elderly are not up to making the family dinner like they once did or decorate the house, they still have preparations to make for the holidays within their capabilities and responsibilities. To that end, a companion comes in very handy.
The companion can help them shop for the things they need and help them wrap presents and decorate the house. Companions can also assist the senior in preparing some of the delicious traditional recipes they have always enjoyed. The companion can help shop for the ingredients and act as sous chef in the kitchen. Most important, the companion can ensure that the senior gets to the social activities that are so important for seniors to feel alive and a part of things, especially if the companion drives.
Seniors and Holiday Time
Loneliness among the elderly is at near epidemic rates. The elderly often have a hard time emotionally around the holidays. It’s natural for them to be nostalgic and even a bit blue when remembering all the holidays of their younger years and those that are not with them anymore. Having a companion around is perfect for alleviating some of the loneliness they may feel. Anything we can do to stave off those feelings brings welcome relief and can help a senior avoid the slippery slope of descent into a depression.
A companion or home health aide becomes a trusted adult upon whom the elderly client can rely. Conversely, the companion often feels responsible for the well-being of their client forming a strong bond with them. They become the sounding board and can step in when the senior feels a need to tell the story of their family or look through photo albums. That is why looking for a companion it is so important to consider the personality and temperament of the companion. It needs to be a suitable match for the senior.
How to Find Companion Care for the Holidays
There are a few ways to find companion care for seniors.
- You can get a word-of-mouth recommendation from a trusted source. This is often the best way to find someone trustworthy and reliable with a proven track record. However, these referrals are often few and far between and you may not hear of someone when you need them.
- You could advertise on social media, but of course the downside is you receive applications from a large swath of strangers. You will need to vet them and that may not be your expertise. You will want to be especially careful because these are people that will be caring for a precious loved one and who will be in their, or your, home every day.
- Most people feel more comfortable hiring an agency to find a companion. It may come with a bit of a higher price tag, but you have the peace of mind knowing that professionals have vetted the individual by having their experienced human resources team interview them and check their references. The agency stands behind the hire and are often bonded and insured. You can feel at ease with the person they send. Furthermore, these companions often are trained in such things as first aid and CPR when they join the agency’s roster.
David York Agency Homecare Helps Seniors in Todt Hill
At David York Agency, we understand the many challenges and risks faced by the aging and elderly. We are dedicated to providing care to support them through all of those ups and downs. At David York Home Healthcare Agency, extraordinary service is what sets us apart from other companies in Todt Hill that provide in home healthcare services.
DYA we could provide direction as to how to manage the total care of your senior loved one. Whatever your care needs, we are there for you, always striving to exceed your expectations. For more information about David York Agency’s qualified, compassionate caregivers, contact us at (718) 376-7755. A free phone consultation can help you determine what services would meet your needs. We aim to provide you and your loved one with the assistance they need. If you’d like to hear more from us, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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