Companion Care in Gilbert, AZ

Each visit takes its shape from the person. One afternoon might be iced tea on the shaded patio, a few hands of gin rummy and a slow lap around the block. Another might be a grocery run, lunch at the kitchen table and the ballgame on TV with someone to talk to about it.

The aim is to fill the hours that have gone quiet. In the Valley, those hours can stretch in summer, when the heat keeps people indoors and the snowbird neighbors head north. A regular visitor gives the week some shape. Tuesday is the library. Thursday is the hair salon. Saturday is a drive to watch a grandchild's soccer game.

Companion care also brings another set of eyes into the house. We notice when the fridge is nearly empty, when the mail has piled up, or when the person we visit seems more tired than last week. We pass that along to the family, because keeping everyone informed is part of the job.

Some families start out searching for a sitter. What they're usually after is a steady companion who knows how the coffee gets made in that kitchen and stays with the person at home while the family is at work. That's the help we bring.

Companion visits happen in Gilbert and all over the East Valley, including Mesa, Chandler, Tempe and Apache Junction. Every town we serve is on our service areas page.

Long, quiet days are hard on anyone. Good company is simple, and it's what these visits are built on. We sit and talk. We listen to the story about the Navy ship or the old Chevy as many times as it gets told. We look through photo albums, work the crossword together, bake a favorite cookie recipe or help write a birthday card to a grandchild.

If the grandkids live out of state, we can help set up a video call on the tablet and hold it steady. If the newspaper is part of the morning, we can read the small print aloud. If someone would rather have quiet, we can sit with them and fold laundry while the radio plays.

A companion also brings a little of the outside world in. We talk about the news, the neighborhood and the weather finally cooling off in the fall. Some people like to get out more: a stop at the senior center, a church service, lunch with an old friend. We go along, which makes it easier to say yes.

The grocery list on the fridge is where a lot of visits begin. We can shop from it together, pushing the cart while your loved one picks out their own peaches. Or we can take the list and do the run for them. Groceries go where they always go, with the milk up front and the heavy cans on a low shelf.

Errands fill in the rest, like a pharmacy pickup, the post office, the dry cleaner, the bank or a stack of library books due back. For someone who's stopped driving, these little trips may be the only time out of the house all week.

Transportation covers more than a ride. We help the person we're visiting get to the doctor's appointment, the dentist, the eye doctor or a follow-up visit. We help with the check-in forms, sit with them in the waiting room, and go in with them if they'd like company. Afterward, we can pass along what the doctor said to the family. The medical advice stays with the doctor. Our part is getting them there, getting them home and keeping track of the details.

Some trips are long drives across the metro, like a specialist on the other side of Phoenix. Those take more of the visit, so we plan them ahead. How rides work, including whose car, is something we'll go over when you call.

Pets and plants are part of the household. When looking after them gets hard, we help. The dog gets his dinner at five and fresh water in his bowl. He gets a short walk in the cool of the morning, off the hot pavement in summer. The litter box gets scooped. The bird gets fresh seed and a clean cage liner.

Plants count too. We water the patio pots, the herbs on the windowsill and the lemon tree out back. When summer comes, we help move the potted plants into the shade. We can also go along to the vet, carry the cat carrier and remember what the vet said.

Some people fear they'll have to give up a pet once they need help at home. With someone coming by to handle feeding, walks and vet visits, the dog can stay.

Companion care is the hands-off side of home care. When the person you care for needs help in the shower, with getting dressed or in the bathroom, personal care adds that to the same visits. Cooking, laundry and housework are covered by home help for seniors. If memory loss is part of the picture, see our dementia home care page.

Companion care is often an easy place to start. A few afternoons of company can feel easier to accept than help in the bathroom, and it gives everyone time to get comfortable. More help can come later, as it's needed. All of it is part of our home care services.

If you're the family caregiver who's there every day, a companion visit can double as respite care. That's a few hours for your own appointments, your own errands or a nap.