Companion Care

One of our basic needs as humans is social interaction and companionship. That doesn’t change when we  get older. It’s just as important for the elderly yet harder to achieve as activities like going out to see friends become more difficult.That’s what companion care is for. Companion care provides companionship and non-medical services. These services may include

• Providing company for appointments or errands
• Planning, preparing, and cleaning up meals
• Cleaning, organizing, dusting, and other light house cleaning tasks
• Washing, drying, ironing, folding, and putting away clothes and linens
• Playing cards or games and having a conversation

Personal Care

Privacy and dignity are also important to us as humans. And it can be difficult for us when we get older and can’t routinely perform the day-to-day activities we used to. Often times these are the activities we don’t want to ask for help with, especially from family.
That’s what personal care is for. Personal care provides hands on care and all the things companion care does, in addition to basic medical services.
Personal caregivers are required to have formal training, unlike companion caregivers. For example, at Huntingdon Valley Home Care all of our personal caregivers are either Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Home Health Aides (HHAs), Direct Care Workers (DCWs).
Services that personal caregivers perform may include all of those that a companion caregiver performs plus:

• Providing hands-on care by assisting with bathing, dressing and skin, mouth, and hair care
  
• Measuring temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and intake and output of fluids
  
• Assisting with the use of devices like wheelchairs and walkers
  
• Helping change colostomy or catheter bags
  
• Help with toileting & restroom needs
  
• Assisting with medication needs
  
• Perform basic grooming and cosmetic assistance