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Companions to Elders are unique
wonderful people who should be worth their weight in gold!
They actually move into your parent's home long term and become
the eyes, ears and hands that your aging parent needs to continue
to live at home.
These are not bossy people who
come in and take over! A companion to elder must be very
skilled in geriatrics and completely sympathetic to the aging
process. A companion is there to provide help when needed,
companionship when needed and privacy when needed. Your
parent will now have a live-in housekeeper, cook, chauffeur and
someone to make sure they keep their medications straight.
You will find the bond between a Heartland companion and your
parent to be a thing of beauty.
The Heartland President and
founder, Karen Walker Ryan, has been placing live-in companions
to elders for 15 years, but in 1998 came to have first
hand knowledge of the process when her 92-year-old mother who
had always attended to her own needs, began to decline in health.
Unfortunately, people who need
help are sometimes the last to admit it, and even though we children
of elderly parents are mature, responsible, successful adults
(and have been for a long time!) it can become quite a "sticky
wicket" to convince our parents they need help.
However, if the parent has a
nice home and does not want to leave it, moving in a companion
requires far less adjustment for the senior than moving the parent
to assisted living--where the next stop is a nursing home once
they need more than a little assistance. And none of us
want that for our parents!
Salary rates for companions depend on the scope of the position and the duties required. Medicare will cover any and all nursing
needs in the home, but will not cover the laundry, shopping,
cooking and cleaning that is required to live alone nor the around
the clock presence of a competent, caring adult.
The Heartland fee is 20% of
the first year's gross annual salary. We will
provide a free replacement within the first 60 days for any reason.
Chemistry is everything in these placements and we want to make
sure the senior is quite comfortable with the caregiver who is
sharing their home. These caregivers commit long term.
Local help may be obtained for days off.
Note: Temporary assistance
for all in-home positions always available through Heartland.
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