If your senior parent is living alone at home they are most likely lonely. The CDC and senior researchers have called loneliness an “epidemic” among seniors. Even though many seniors love living independently if you can’t visit every day, or even every month, and they don’t have a lot of friends or neighbors who can come by they become isolated.

Social isolation can cause physical and mental health problems for seniors. According to the CDC:

• Social isolation significantly increases a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
• Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.
• Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) were associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
• Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
• Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.
• Companion care for seniors can provide the social connection that seniors need when they are living at home.

What is Companion Care for Seniors?

Companion care at home for seniors is a service that connects seniors with someone they can form a friendship with who can provide emotional support as well as help with some physical tasks. A companion will make regular visits to your senior parent’s home to hang out, watch TV, talk, share meals, and do activities and hobbies with them.

A companion can also take your senior parent to medical appointments, go with them to the hair salon or do some light shopping, run errands, and take them out for coffee or lunch when they’re feeling up to it.

Companions provide a social lifeline for seniors who are at risk of becoming isolated because they don’t have any children or family living nearby, don’t have neighbors who can drop by, or have lost their partners and are now living alone.

The Benefits of Companion Care for Seniors

In addition to the physical and emotional benefits that your senior parent gets from companion care, there is a benefit for you too.

Often family members feel guilty when they can’t see their senior parent every day. But with work, kids, and other responsibilities sometimes it’s just not possible. And if you live far away you may not be able to get to see your senior parent often.

If your senior parent has companion care, then it’s ok for you to visit whenever you can. You will have the peace of mind of knowing that even if you can’t stop by for a visit your senior parent is getting the social interaction they need to stay healthy.

Call today to find out more about companion care for seniors and how it can improve your senior parent’s physical and mental health.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in Atherton, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today at (415) 463-1400

Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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