What is companion care?

Companion care is non-medical help at home focused on supervision, recreational activities and visiting, so the person is not left alone and stays engaged. The Alzheimer's Association lists companion services as one of four kinds of in-home care, alongside personal care, homemaker services and skilled care. It can help a person with dementia stay in their own home, and it gives family caregivers time for themselves.

Companion care covers supervision, recreational activities and visiting, while personal care adds hands-on help with bathing, dressing, toileting, eating and exercising, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Both are non-medical. Medical tasks such as wound care and injections are skilled care given by a nurse or therapist. When you call providers, the association suggests asking what kind of help they offer and whether it meets your needs.

No. Medicare.gov says Medicare does not pay for 24-hour care at home, homemaker services unrelated to a care plan, or custodial and personal care when that is the only care you need, and it does not pay for non-medical long-term care. Companion care falls in that group. Medicaid programs in some states and some long-term care insurance policies may help pay for care at home.

Yes. Companion care offers supervision, activities and company, which can help a person with dementia stay at home and give family caregivers a break; the Alzheimer's Association lists companion services among forms of respite. It suggests asking any provider about their experience with dementia and their dementia care training, and sharing the person's history and fond memories so a stronger bond can form.

A companion is one kind of caregiver. Caregiver is the broad word for anyone who helps, from family members to paid aides and nurses. The National Institute on Aging notes that most home-based care is personal care, meaning help with everyday activities plus supervision for safety, while paid caregivers can also include nurses, home health aides and therapists. Companion care is the lightest level: supervision and company.