A private companion is a caring and compassionate professional who provides companionship and care for a client. These professionals are often matched up with senior citizens who need a little extra help with basic tasks, household duties, or who could simply benefit from the mental stimulation and emotional support of having a friend by their side. Caregivers do much more than just perform basic hygiene and household tasks. In fact, they are indispensable to the total wellbeing of the client and very valuable members of our society.
The Purpose of Private Caregiver Jobs
Common duties of private caregiver jobs include assisting with hygiene, washing, grooming, cooking, and serving meals. These professionals will also often schedule doctor appointments, accompany clients to doctor appointments, and run basic errands. These are all very important tasks that individuals may have trouble with as they get older or suffer from an injury or disability.
That being said, perhaps the most important responsibility of the companion is providing their client with a sense of security, kindness and tenderness. This is in addition to a companion’s other custodial duties and provided alongside the various forms of physical support. Research shows strong correlations between our physical health, social needs, and longevity. This means that if social and emotional needs aren’t met, an individual’s overall health is more likely to suffer.
Primary Responsibilities of Caregivers
- Provide companionship to the client
- Assist with the bathing
- Assist with the hygiene
- Assist with the grooming
- Medication reminders
- Accompany to the doctor’s or social appointments
- Assist with recovery from hospital stays
- Prepare and serve meals
- Provide light housekeeping, laundering
- Provide grocery and clothes shopping
- Offer entertainment and conversation
- Arrange social outings and hobbies
Physical Benefits for Senior Citizens and Disabled Individuals
There are many benefits of offering in-home care to senior citizens and other individuals who have limitations that hinder daily activities. To support one’s physical health and wellbeing, caregivers provide basic support to protect one from injuries, falls, and heavy lifting. This could mean helping individuals use the toilet and shower, carrying grocery bags, and arranging for assistive technology to be installed in the home.
All of these services allow seniors to age in place and stay in their own beloved homes for longer. Rather than placing an aging parent or grandparent into an assisted living facility or nursing home, seniors with caregivers can be allowed to live in the homes they love and feel comfortable in with confidence.
Emotional and Social Benefits of Caregivers
Caregivers also offer the positive impact of social interaction to offset the unfortunate and all-too-common occurrences of loneliness and isolation. As we age, we often lose touch with friends and are less able to travel due to mobility limitations. Overcoming the challenges of being alone can be very difficult for seniors, which is why having a caring companion by one’s side is so important.
The caregivers that we work with at Household Staffing International are trained to monitor seniors’ health and safety, as well as handle common household tasks and provide vital social interaction. This could mean helping to plan social outings, offering supportive conversation, and challenging the client with stimulating mental games. If an individual is healthy enough for exercise, a caregiver can oversee physical activities to ensure they are done safely and with the proper techniques.
Caregivers can also help seniors stay physically and mentally active by planning visits to see family and friends, as well as fun outings in the community. Perhaps a trip to the park or zoo would bright up one’s day, or a simple craft activity could spark an interest in a brand-new hobby. Hobbies are very important for people who are primarily homebound or who have mobility restrictions to keep their minds sharp and their spirits up. The best caregivers that we work with at HSI keep senior clients engaged, stimulated, and ready to learn new things every day.
Caregivers Agencies You Can Trust
While all the day-to-day responsibilities are certainly part of private caregiver jobs, the real importance of hiring a companion for a loved one is intangible. Family members can have peace of mind that their loved ones are well cared for, kept company, and protected from harm. While caregivers do not administer professional medical assistance, they are the perfect household staff member for getting a little extra help around the house and tending to basic needs. By working with trusted caregiver agencies, you can rest assured that your loved one is in good hands and always tended to.
Caregivers agencies, like Household Staffing International, help families and individuals that are looking for personal assistance to clearly define their needs and find a candidate that matches their expectations. Our goal is to connect clients and their families with compassionate caregivers that will provide high quality in-home care and companionship on a regular and ongoing basis. We understand that every client’s needs are unique, and we have the resources and experience to match you with the very best candidate.
If you’re looking to satisfy a need for personal companion services, consider filling out a new client family application today. Or if you think that you have what it takes to become an ideal personal companion, take the first step and complete an application for employment to potentially work with Household Staffing International.