Companionship Live-in Care is a great care option for elderly people as it means your loved ones can stay in the comfort of their own home with support in daily tasks, and someone to talk to and bring them comfort. Companionship care and emotional support is a very important element of life, especially as we get older - loneliness and isolation can lead to problems in both mental and physical health.
Research shows that loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death by 26% (Holt-Lunstad, 2015), and is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day (Holt-Lunstad, 2010). It also puts individuals at a greater risk of illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's and increases blood pressure.
Half a million older people go at least five or even six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone - to us, that's a shocking statistic. And 2/5 of older people (about 3.9 million) say that their television is their main company. The number of people over 50 years of age experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025 - that's a growth of 49% in 10 years. We want to stop as much of that as we can.
There are many benefits to companionship care - your loved one remains independent, they stay living in their home which holds many precious memories and is comfortable, friends and family can pop over any time, you get to keep your beloved pets, and of course for couples it's the ability to stay together which isn't always the case when moving to a residential home. Some of the things a Live-in Carer can help with are:
House work and chores
Gardening
Looking after pets
Hosting friends and family
Going to appointments
Cleaning nutritious meals
Washing and dressing
Keeping in touch with family on Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom
Going to appointments
Having a companion means your loved ones are never lonely - many benefits to both mental and physical health come from having someone to share your experiences, someone to talk to and go through cherished photo albums, someone to watch a film with or listen to your favourite radio programme. A Live in Carer will help with fun and mentally stimulating activities such as baking, crafts, and gardening. Your loved one truly has the choice to live their life, their way.
Many of our Live-in Carers become friends and can spot any changes in a persons health or behaviour, meaning illnesses can be diagnosed and treated/relieved before it's too late. A Home Carer provides the ultimate peace of mind for the whole family - your loved one is well looked after, and will never be left without a helping hand.
If you would like to talk about companionship Live-in Care, please call us today on 01264 319 399 and our friendly team will be delighted to answer any questions, and help you arrange Live-in Care.