Elder Companion Care

Companion care is non-medical, non-hands-on support that provides companionship, engagement, and household support to help older adults live safely and with dignity, without providing personal or medical care.

Companion care focuses on presence and daily life support, not hands-on care.

Companion care may include:

• Companionship and conversation

• Shared activities and engagement

• Light meal preparation

• Laundry and tidying

• Errands and accompaniment to activities

• Help with routines and reminders

Companion care does not include:

• Bathing, toileting, or dressing

• Lifting or transfers (to/from bed, car)

• Medical or nursing care

• Administering medications

If hands-on or medical care is needed, families are usually better served by a licensed home care or home health agency.

Companion care is often a good fit when:

• Your loved one values conversation and presence

• Daily life support is needed, not medical care

• Maintaining independence is a priority

• Loneliness or isolation is a concern

If significant physical assistance or medical oversight is needed, a different level of care may be more appropriate.

After a referral, the working relationship is between the family and the companion.

Depending on how the arrangement is structured (as needed vs consistent companion care each week):

• The family may act as a household employer, or

• The companion may work independently

Peace of Mind Nannies does not determine employment classification. Guidelines are based on wages earned in a calendar year. Many families consult a household payroll service or accountant to set things up correctly. We can refer you to industry payroll companies.

Peace of Mind Nannies’ role is to make the introduction, set clear expectations and boundaries as well as ensure your loved one’s needs are met.

We do not manage care.

Typically, we:

• Match families with a companion

• Define what companion care includes and excludes

• Ensure everyone is satisfied with the working relationship

The agency does not supervise day-to-day care, direct how services are provided, or employ the Companion Caregiver.

Companion care works best as a relationship, not as occasional help.

A minimum three-month engagement:

• Allows trust and routine to develop

• Reduces confusion about expectations

• Helps maintain appropriate boundaries

• Supports better outcomes for the older adult

This structure also helps distinguish companion care from casual babysitting or short-term help.

Companions may receive education about boundaries, professionalism, and engagement, but this is not supervision.

Agencies do not:

• Direct daily care

• Evaluate performance

• Manage how services are delivered

Companion Care Professionals work independently with families within the agreed upon scope.

If care needs evolve beyond companion care:

• The agency will step out and no longer be involved in the relationship

• Any transition to personal care happens independently

• Families may choose to work with a licensed home care agency

This protects families, caregivers, and agencies by keeping everyone in the appropriate role. Peace of Mind Nannies can refer to local licensed home care agencies.

Companion care can be helpful for individuals with early or moderate cognitive changes when the role remains non-medical and non-hands-on.

As needs increase or safety becomes a concern, families often transition to licensed care providers who can offer hands-on support.

In the event of an incident:

• Safety and emergency response come first

• The caregiver and family follow agreed-upon steps

The agency’s role is limited to providing documentation related to the referral. Responsibility for care decisions is handled between the family and caregiver, depending on the situation.

Clear scope definitions help reduce confusion in these moments, which our agency will support with.