By Sue Sveum
Many older adults prefer to stay in their own home as long as they can, but that isn’t always possible — especially for those with dementia. Enter Catholic Charities CompanionCare program.
“We’re a non-medical, home-care program supporting adults 55 and older,” explains program manager Kaitlin Simmons. “We get to know our clients through an in-home assessment of needs, interests, religious and cultural preferences, life history and personality. The person is then carefully matched with a trained companion.”
Services include;
- transportation
- in-home support
- medication reminders
- personal care assistance
- companionship
“When working with individuals with dementia, we understand that everyone experiences their journey differently,” says Simmons. “Our companions know the importance of meeting individuals ‘where they’re at’ on the day of their visit. They engage clients with daily living skills, while providing a consistent routine — and a familiar face.”
The aim of CompanionCare is to offer support for individuals and their caregivers — with the goal of assisting them in maintaining a safe, healthy and stable living environment, and allowing them to ‘age in place’ a little longer.