As a person ages, even if they are still physically capable of living independently, they may find themselves needing emotional companionship. After all, as spouses, friends, or family pass, an elderly person’s social interactions can decrease, causing daily loneliness to skyrocket. At the same time, family members who work or live out of the area may not be able to provide that much-needed, in-person interaction with ageing loved ones.
Consequently, families may choose to hire an independent companion caregiver, or they may choose to hire an in-home care agency that provides in-home care companions.
Here are the basics on companion care services and how much they cost.
What is companion care?
Companion care is a non-medical, in-home care service offering companionship to ageing adults, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. Companion care can be administered by a registered nurse, but certification is not required to administer this non-medical care.
Companion care is provided primarily as an emotional support system for ageing adults, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities who wish to remain in their homes.
This type of care only helps individuals with non-medical activities of daily living and does not include hands-on or medical assistance. It can be provided by a family member, a loved one, or even a friend. Companion care can take place at home, in a retirement village, in an independent living facility, or wherever an older adult resides.
While some ageing adults may require assistance with their hygiene practices or other personal care services to ensure they remain healthy, comfortable, and confident at all times, it’s qualified home-based aged care support workers, rather than companion caregivers, who typically perform more hands-on care.
Personal care services that companion caregivers do not provide include:
- Toileting
- Incontinence care
- Perineal care
- Catheter care
- Bathing
- Oral hygiene
- Hand washing
- Dressing
- Skin, hair, and nail care
How to hire a companion caregiver
How you go about searching for and hiring a companion caregiver can impact the hourly rate that you pay. Here are various ways to hire companion care:
Through an agency
Home care or nursing agencies are the most common source of companion care. However, it’s important to remember that hourly rates may vary between regions depending on the cost of living, and that the carer isn’t paid the full amount that you’re paying, since the agency takes a cut.
Another thing to consider is that agencies usually require a certain number of hours a day, so you might not be able to book your chosen carer for specific hours of the day.
The cost of care will likely increase if you choose to hire a companion carer for less than the agency’s minimum hours.
Directly
Families may also opt to directly hire a companion to avoid the heavy overhead costs of using an agency. You can look at caregiver listings on Care.com as well as on social media or in local print media, or reach out to trusted loved ones and search by word of mouth.
Through a volunteer or social worker
Some volunteers don’t charge at all, and they can be found through local churches, community centres, and online.
What you can expect to pay for companion care
Typically, companion caregivers charge an hourly rate. However, the set amount will vary based on a range of factors, including:
- Your location
- The elderly person’s needs
- Whether you are going through an agency
A caregiver’s prior experience and whether or not they carry other certifications will also impact their rate. However, some organisations and caregivers may also offer package deals if you book, say, five or more hours per week.
According to indeed, you can expect to pay $29.26 per hour on average for companion care at home, depending on the above-mentioned factors. It is worth noting that companion care is often covered in Level 2 Home Care Packages, which currently offer a subsidy of $16,147.60 a year.
Does insurance cover companion care?
No matter where you live, the cost of companion care can quickly add up depending on how often you hire someone to help.
Some insurance companies may offer a certain level of reimbursement, but private insurance is far less likely to cover in-home services that are not medical in nature. Your best option is to suss out your eligibility for a Home Care Package to see what subsidies you could receive for companion care at home.
Ultimately, companion care is a fantastic option for older adults who don’t need daily medical care but do need hands-off activity and social interaction to combat isolation. If it feels like this type of care is best for your loved one, it could pay to investigate your options.