---
title: "What Is Companion care? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "Companion care is non-medical home care that focuses on company and everyday help. A caregiver may talk, cook, run errands, drive to appointments, and do..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/companion-care/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Types of care

# Companion care

Companion care is non-medical home care that focuses on company and everyday help. A caregiver may talk, cook, run errands, drive to appointments, and do light housekeeping. It does not include medical treatment. It suits older adults who are lonely or need a little help but can mostly manage alone.

## Why it matters for your family

Loneliness affects mood and health, so a regular visitor can matter as much as help with chores. A companion can also notice changes, such as skipped meals or new confusion, and tell the family. Companion care has limits. Most companions do not give hands-on help with bathing or lifting. They may remind someone to take medicine, but they do not give it. Many families start with companion care and add personal care as needs grow. The National Institute on Aging notes that Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance generally do not pay for these services, so most families pay privately.

Source: [nia.nih.gov](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/services-older-adults-living-home)

[Read more: Companion care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/companion-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Personal care**Personal care is hands-on help with daily self-care, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, and moving around.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/personal-care/)
-   [**Hourly care**Hourly care is home care booked by the hour instead of by the day or live-in arrangement.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/hourly-care/)
-   [**Medication reminder**A medication reminder is a prompt that tells a person it is time to take a medicine they already have.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medication-reminder/)
-   [**Private pay**Private pay means a family pays for care directly from its own money.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/private-pay/)
-   [**Aging in place**Aging in place means staying in your own home as you get older.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/aging-in-place/)
-   [**Home care**Home care is non-medical help for people who live at home, such as bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, errands, and company.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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![A caregiver and an older woman looking at a tablet together](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/personal-hero.DqUYygP8_1Sv1FH.webp)