Providing companionship for our clients
What is companionship care?
According to the campaign to End loneliness, loneliness is seen by many as ones of the largest health concerns we face:
- The number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6
- Half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all
- Well over half (59%) of those aged 85 and over and 38% of those aged 75 to 84 live alone
- Two fifths all older people (about 3.9 million) say the television is their main company
Furthermore, according to the campaign to End Loneliness:
- Loneliness is likely to increase risk of death by 26%
- Loneliness, living alone and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day
- Loneliness is worse for you than obesity
- Loneliness and social isolation are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke
- Loneliness increases the risk of high blood pressure
- Loneliness with severe depression is associated with early mortality and loneliness is a risk factor for depression in later life
- Loneliness and social isolation put individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia
As an individual gets older the likelihood of them facing loneliness increases, with them more likely to experience the loss of a life-long spouse/partner, poorer health, and long-term illness. However, despite this an individual can feel lonely at any point during their life. It important that when an individual begins presenting with these emotions, they are supported. In many cases families may live some distance away from there loved ones and it is not possible for them to visit frequently.
This is when Eximius can step in. Eximius can provide companionship care to help ensure loved ones can live well. Individuals can continue living in their own home whilst receiving companionship, care and support from our highly trained and experienced carers. For many it is company that is needed, and enjoyment being brought back into their lives. Eximius can help individuals begin feeling themselves again, feel less isolated/lonely and begin to experience a quality life that they deserve.
How our companions can help
Managing and administering medications
All companions at Eximius are fully trained and qualified in the administration of medication. We ensure that companions understand and aware of client’s medication usage before they go into placement. This helps ensure a smooth and accurate handover. Additionally, companions are required to document the administration of medication on a secure care electronic system. This helps companions monitor intake and let a clients family know that their loved one is being looked after. This can be extremely reassuring. Companions will also ensure that repeat prescriptions are made and will collect medication from the pharmacy. This takes all pressure of the client’s family and ensures optimum health and wellbeing of the client.
Personal care
Companions are Eximius can help assist clients with personal hygiene. We understand that this can be a sensitive matter and ensure that the client’s dignity is respected whilst helping with personal care.
Additionally companions can help with assisted care such as supporting clients with appearance, dressing and grooming.
Help them stay socially active
Our companions can help keep clients stimulated by ensuring they keep in touch with friends, remain active and attend activities they enjoy and love. This is good for a client’s confidence, mental wellbeing and helps ensure they remain connected to the local community. Companions can also escort clients on daytrips to museums, concerts and on holiday. This helps ensure that our clients experience a quality life that they deserve.
Help with domestic tasks
Companions at Eximius are required to keep a client’s house clean. All rooms are regularly cleaned and vacuumed ensuring that the upkeep of the house is kept to a high standard. This can be reassuring to a client’s family knowing that there relative is in a safe and tidy environment.
Help care for the client’s much-loved pet
Companions at Eximius will happily support looking after client’s pets by feeding them and taking them on regular walks.
Eating and drinking
At Eximius companions help with the client’s food shopping and cook healthy well-balanced meals. Meal’s choices can be prepared based on the client’s desires and preferences. This ensures that the client regularly eats/drinks and receives essential vitamins. This is important in remaining healthy and keeping their immune systems strong helpful in fighting illness. Each companion is provided with an Eximius recipe book when going into a placement. The recipe book is filled with tasty healthy meals helpful in ensuring clients receive a range of delicious meals.
Companionship
Companions at Eximius can provide excellent emotional support and assistance. Our companions are carefully selected by our recruitment manager, ensuring that all companions employed by the company are of an outstanding care standard. Companions are perfectly matched to a client to ensure they share similar interests and hobbies. This enables a client to continue living an interesting and stimulating life.
Eximius like to keep companions in a placement for as long as possible to enable the client and companion to develop a relationship. A dedicated companion can spend time getting to know the client and how they wish to live their life. They offer one-to-one consistent company that cannot be achieved with other types of care. Having a stable carer is extremely important in them being able to pick up and notice behavioural changes in the client. Having a companion notice alterations in the client mood is important. Additionally, keeping a companion in a placement for a while helps maintain structure. Maintaining a structured environment is essential for providing care to someone. The structure will minimize potential issues by providing the individual a consistent, dependable way of life.
Reasons to choose Eximius
Matching of carers
When we meet a client and their family we learn all about a persons like and dislikes, their past and their hobbies. This enables us to get a carer who shares as many interests as possible. They can then go for drives, play scrabble, watch pointless and all the things that having a companion can bring.
Consistency
We believe in keeping the same carer in place for as long as possible. This means a strong bond can develop between the carer and the client. The carer can understand the clients likes and dislikes, what might trigger them and build a level of trust.
Choosing the correct care is an important decision and our experienced team are here to help every step of the way. Please do not hesitate to contact us, we are more than happy to help.