What is companion care?

What companion care looks like day to day

A typical dementia companion visit might start with coffee and the newspaper, a walk around the block before the heat builds, lunch made together, an old Sinatra album or photo album, then a reminder to take the afternoon pills and a ride to the hairdresser.

For your loved one it is a good day with a friend. For the family it is a few hours of peace of mind, or a whole afternoon off.

What Florida law says

Florida Statutes s. 400.462 defines a “companion” or “sitter” as a person who spends time with or cares for an elderly, disabled or convalescent person and accompanies them on trips and outings, and a “homemaker” as someone who does housekeeping, meal planning and preparation. Both definitions say they may not provide hands-on personal care. Bathing, toileting and transfers are done by home health aides or personal care workers. For that hands-on care, families add a licensed home health agency or aide, and our companion can work alongside them. Companions also do not give medicines or nursing care, though they can give reminders.

Why it helps people with dementia

Mayo Clinic lists limited social and mentally stimulating activity among risk factors for cognitive decline, and boredom can feed behaviors like agitation and wandering. A familiar person, steady routine and meaningful activity help many people feel calmer and more like themselves. Consistency is key: in dementia, the same face week after week builds trust in a way a rotating roster cannot.

Companion care at different stages of dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association notes the middle stage is usually the longest, and that is when most families lean on companion care the most. In the late stage, your loved one needs around-the-clock personal care, so a companion becomes one part of a larger team.

Getting the most from it

• Share your loved one’s life story, favorite music, foods and topics to avoid.
• Schedule visits for the hardest hours, often late afternoon.
• Agree on a short note after each visit so the family knows how the day went.
• Reassess every month as needs change.

Our post on a day in the life of a dementia companion shows a real-style schedule, and how to choose a dementia caregiver in Florida lists questions to ask.

When to talk to the doctor

Companion care does not replace medical care. Talk to the doctor if your loved one needs wound care, injections or therapy; they may qualify for home health care as well. Help with bathing, dressing and transfers is also outside a companion’s role, so families add a licensed home health agency or aide for it. Companions can work alongside home health, hospice or a nurse.

Companion care vs. home health care

Home health care is medical, ordered by a doctor and often covered by Medicare for homebound patients. Companion care is non-medical, scheduled by the family and paid privately; some long-term care insurance policies reimburse it, so check your policy. Compare them in companion care vs. home health care.

Cost in Florida

The CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey put Florida’s median for a non-medical in-home caregiver (a 2025 category that merges companion, homemaker and aide care) at $32 an hour. Dementia Companions charges $35 an hour for 40+ hours a week, with no contracts; call us about shorter schedules. See the full picture in our Florida dementia care cost guide and our dementia companion care service.

Questions to ask any companion care provider

• Will the same person come every visit?
• What background screening do companions pass?
• What dementia training do they have?
• Can we meet or watch a video profile before the first visit?
• What happens if the fit is wrong?
• Will we get a note after each visit?
• Is there a minimum visit length or a long-term contract?

The Alzheimer’s Association lists companion services with supervised activities as one form of in-home respite and recommends asking about training and checking references. Our answers: one consistent companion screened for dementia care experience, video profiles within 48 hours, a free rematch, a note after each visit, and no long-term contract.

Related terms

• Home health care
• Respite care
• Activities of daily living
• Adult day care
• Memory care
• Caregiver burnout