Companion Care VS Personal Care
If you decide that home care is the best option for a loved one, you’ve likely encountered the terms “companion care” and “personal care.” While these two at-home services may seem similar and are often used interchangeably, they are distinct in their offerings. Understanding the benefits of each will help you select the proper home care support for your family member or friend.
At Visiting Angels Lincoln, NE, we offer both of these services and a variety of others. Our goal is for your loved one to continue living in the comfort of their own home.
Reliable Companion Care
We know you’ll enjoy working with our caregivers, but we encourage you to read our many positive reviews for yourself, such as this Google review:
"I contracted with Visiting Angels prior to having back surgery, knowing that the surgeon's post-operative restrictions would not allow me to do many of the things around the house that I normally do on my own. My caregivers have been amazingly efficient and thorough with their help, and they are always pleasant."
Understanding Companion Care VS Personal Care
What is Companion Care?
Companion care is a non-medical service designed to support seniors and disabled adults by addressing their emotional and social needs.
The benefits of companion care include:
- Providing companionship through activities like hobbies, exercise, conversations, and organizing social outings.
- Assisting with light housekeeping and errands, including cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, grocery shopping, laundry, dusting, vacuuming, and meal prep.
- Offering transportation to ensure safe travel to appointments.
- Communicating with family and care teams by monitoring health and well-being, notifying family members of any issues, and arranging emergency medical help if needed.
Companion care does not include managing medications or helping with physical tasks such as dressing, bathing, or toileting.
What is Personal Care?
In addition to companion care, personal care includes assistance with "Activities of Daily Living" (ADLs), essential for elderly people who need more substantial assistance.
Some of the benefits of a personal caregiver include:
- Toileting: Providing discreet assistance to help seniors feel comfortable.
- Dressing: Offering daily help while allowing seniors to keep their style.
- Mobility and transfer assistance: Helping seniors navigate safely and securely transfer between locations.
- Grooming and personal hygiene: Assisting with shaving, haircare, skincare, makeup, and oral care.
- Feeding: Helping with both eating and meal preparation.
- Medication reminders: Ensuring seniors take their medications on schedule.
This level of care is well-suited to individuals requiring more extensive physical assistance and those with cognitive or physical impairments.
Does Insurance Cover Companion Care or Personal Care?
Medicare and other health insurance policies don't tend to pay for companion care because it is not deemed medically necessary. However, some long-term care insurance may cover companion care if home care is part of the policy. Some Medicaid programs and waivers may also cover home care services that are not medical; however, this varies by state and program.
The likelihood of insurance coverage increases for personal care services, which include aid with ADLs like bathing and clothing. Policies that cover long-term care typically also cover services related to everyday living.
Creating Strong Client-Caregiver Relationships
Effective care relies on a trusting relationship between clients and caregivers, which helps clients feel safe and at ease while receiving assistance.
Building Trust
To maintain the high levels of care at Visiting Angels, all caregivers are carefully chosen after completing extensive background checks and training programs. They are then carefully paired with clients according to their preferences and needs, creating a solid foundation for compassionate, individualized care.
Getting Started With Personal Care
Contact us at (402) 735-0999 or complete our online form to learn more about our Lincoln companion care services. Our coordinator will arrange a complimentary in-home consultation to discuss your needs and how our services can support you or your loved one. During this initial visit, we will take the time to fully understand your requirements and provide customized home care options that best suit your needs.