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5 Valuable Benefits of Companionship for Seniors

Article Posted On: Aug 19, 2019 • Last updated on: Feb 24, 2022 at 6:57 am • Author: Logan Derrick
Benefits of Companionship for Seniors

As our loved ones grow older, the physical and mental benefits of companionship grow stronger than ever before.

Discover the benefits of companionship for seniors and how it helps to uplift their mood and provides advantages for emotional health.

It helps loved ones gain a supportive, caring environment as they go through their golden years.

Senior companionship is important because of how much people go through by the time they retire.

As time progresses, more of their own friends and loved ones pass on or find their way to nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Because of this, it’s important to find ways to support seniors who may otherwise feel lonely or depressed.

Elderly Companion Taking Care of Senior at Home

Companionship involves someone coming to the senior’s home at regular intervals.

During their time with the senior, the companion might do things like talk, share stories, take the senior to lunch, or simply spend time together. It all depends on what the individual needs most.

Types of Companionship

Companionship services are a way for seniors to have someone to talk to or go places with them.

One type of companionship from a home care company allows seniors to hire a companion to go out to dinner, to the theater, or to visit a museum with them.

They can also take them out to get groceries (or do it for them), help with dishes and housework, and even exercise with them to keep them in shape.

Many people use these services because they are social people who do not want to be left alone for long periods of time while their friends and family are not around.

Having a companion around during these times can be extremely important to make sure that nothing goes wrong, such as the senior falling and getting hurt, or health complications.

Another companionship option would be assisted living options, for those who do not care to stay in their own homes.

They could be in a more social environment with other seniors and, depending on the facility, could have nurses available on standby if they have any health issues to watch for.

It all depends on the specific needs of the person requiring companion care. Be sure to talk with them about their social needs, and whether they’d rather be home or not.

The Advantages of Getting Caring Companionship for Seniors

So why is companionship important for seniors?

There comes a time when you may begin to recognize signs your elder loved one could use in-home companionship and care services.

In addition to boosting the individual’s lifespan and heart health, senior companionship also gives seniors (and their caregivers) the peace of mind of knowing they are cared for.

Some of the other benefits of senior companionship include a happier social life, living at home longer, faster recoveries from illnesses, and even dementia prevention.

Companionship is a basic human need, and simply meeting regularly provides seniors with companionship and fulfils this natural human desire.

1. Enjoy a Longer, Healthier Life

Research shows the many benefits of companionship. Seniors who live in social isolation are more likely to pass away prematurely compared to their counterparts who have a caring support network.

In fact, Harvard Health Publishing found social isolation and loneliness increased someone’s chances of having a stroke by 32%.

Harvard Health Loneliness Study

Compared to socially active people, idle and lonely seniors were also 29% more likely to suffer from heart disease. Because of this, companionship for seniors is literally good for the heart.

By reducing the chances of someone experiencing cardiac-related illnesses, senior companion care can prolong the individual’s lifespan.

2. Peace of Mind

While many people focus on the health benefits of companionship, it is difficult to understate how important peace of mind is for their family.

Your loved one may want to live at home for as long as possible, but this can be nerve-wracking for family members and caregivers.

No matter how often you call, it isn’t the same as showing up each day to check on them.

When you live far away from your loved one, it is difficult to check on them all the time to see how they are doing. But with elderly companion care, loved ones get peace of mind.

You know there will be a trained professional visiting your loved one each day, so you never have to worry about them.

Companionship for seniors is crucial as they start to lose their mobility and strength as they age.

Elderly Care for Seniors in Wheelchairs

This makes it dangerous for them to live alone without someone to help if they fall or become injured. They need to have companionship care at home to give them an added sense of security.

This senior companionship means loved ones and seniors can enjoy better peace of mind. The senior can also enjoy a healthy level of social interaction and daily activities.

As a result, they can safely live at home for an extended period of time.

3. Dementia Prevention

The human brain needs to be actively used, or it can start to decline, making seniors more subject to diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Research shows numerous benefits of companionship when it comes to mental health. By getting seniors to interact socially through senior companionship, you can help improve their memory.

It takes as little as 10 minutes of conversation with someone to boost their memory. This same benefit can also be enjoyed by playing puzzles, games, or other thought-provoking activities.

Senior Dementia Assistance - Playing Puzzles

In essence, a meaningful relationship can decrease someone’s chances of developing dementia.

4. Enjoy a Faster Recovery Process

As people start to age, their bodies are less effective at recovering from an illness or injury.

An injury a young person recovers from in just a few days may take an older individual weeks to get over. Many elderly people may even require surgery for simple fractures.

Another one of the benefits of companionship for seniors plays an important role in the recovery process, while also preventing many of these accidents in the first place.

Having companionship can help people recover faster from the pain of surgery. People recover more quickly if they have a companion or friend nearby assisting them through the process.

Bedridden Senior Care

When someone has a companion with them, they deal with less inflammation and nerve-related pain.

Companionship care at home also gives people the social support they need to keep up their spirits as they heal.

Through home companion care, individuals can enjoy faster recovery times and better health.

5. Prevent Loneliness and Depression

Sometimes, an elderly individual will live longer than their friends, spouse, or family members.

This can potentially lead to an intense sense of loneliness and depression, which highlights the importance of companionship for seniors.

These feelings are highly common among elderly people who live at home and have impaired mobility.

When someone doesn’t have enough social interaction and stimulation, it is hard to care about grooming, eating healthy, or enjoying life. Over time, these feelings can lead to clinical depression.

Elderly companion care is an important way to help seniors feel excited about their day-to-day living and keep them in an upbeat and happy mood.

5 Valuable Benefits of Companionship for Seniors 1

A companion provides the senior with interesting conversation and a friend to be with them during difficult times.

More importantly, the companion gives them something to look forward to on a daily basis.

For seniors with mobility issues, at-home companionship is extremely important for their emotional and mental well-being.

Additional Benefits

Some additional companionship benefits that seniors will benefit from include:

  • a sense of security
  • familiarity
  • friendship
  • socialization
  • recreation
  • emotional support

It has been said that one of the best things about getting older is that we have more time to spend with our loved ones.

This is because, statistically, the majority of people over the age of 65 live on their own.

Studies show that, when we are able to spend time with loved ones, our quality of life improves.

Your Loved One Can Continue to Enjoy Their Golden Years

Hopefully this article has provided you with a few valuable benefits of companionship for seniors.

People are naturally more comfortable at home. The hard part is being able to live at home as health issues, mobility difficulties, and other problems start to develop.

With senior companionship services, your loved one can spend more of their golden years at home instead of in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Companionship for seniors gives your loved one the means to stay socially active and happy. The benefits of companionship range from mental well-being to faster recovery times.

If you want to give your loved one or family member extra support during their golden years, consider getting them caring companionship.

Pacific Angels Home Care offers these wonderful senior care services and so much more. Please give a call at (831) 708-2876 to learn about how we can positively impact the life of your senior loved one.

Logan Derrick

After being told once that his content writing was like magic, Logan took on the title of Wordcraft Wizard. He is a professional content marketing strategist with a deep knowledge of SEO, digital marketing, web design, and more. He is dedicated to providing powerful, relevant, and engaging content without all the "fluff".


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