Regular & Flexible Home Visits
Companion support at home, understanding the difference between regular and flexible visits.
Not every older adult needs a companion living in the home. Many families benefit from regular or flexible home visits, which provide meaningful presence, support, and connection without a full-time arrangement.
Regular and flexible visits help seniors maintain independence while receiving reassurance and companionship when they need it most. These visits are non-medical, and companions focus on emotional support, daily life, and social connection.
What regular and flexible visits look like
Each arrangement is tailored to the older adult and family, but examples include:
- A familiar companion visiting on a consistent schedule, such as a few times per week
- Short-term visits for transitions, recovery periods, or temporary needs
- Sharing conversation, meals, or hobbies during visits
- Supporting daily routines in a light, non-medical way
- Providing reminders for appointments or daily tasks without handling medications
- Offering social interaction, emotional support, and presence
These visits can be brief or extended, scheduled or flexible, depending on what works best for the family and companion.
Regular vs Flexible visits
Regular visits
- • Occur on a set schedule, like daily or several times per week
- • Build continuity and familiarity between the companion and the older adult
- • Provide consistent emotional support and reassurance
Flexible visits
- • Occur on an occasional, as-needed basis
- • Useful during travel, short-term recovery, or transitional periods
- • Offer support when extra presence is helpful but not required daily
Both types are non-medical and focused on human presence and support, not care or therapy.
What companions do and do not do
Do
- Spend time with older adults during visits
- Engage in conversation, shared activities, and companionship
- Support daily routines lightly, like tidying or simple meal prep
- Be reliable, warm, and respectful of personal space and boundaries
Do not
- Provide medical, nursing, or therapeutic services
- Administer medications or medical treatments
- Perform personal hygiene or physical care
- Make emergency or medical decisions
- Replace professional caregivers or healthcare providers
When regular or flexible visits are not appropriate
Home visits may not be suitable if:
- The older adult requires continuous medical, therapeutic, or professional supervision
- There is a need for 24-hour care for safety or health reasons
In such cases, professional care should be arranged alongside companionship, which remains a supportive, human presence.
Choosing the right visit arrangement
- Communicate clearly about the schedule, expectations, and tasks
- Agree on boundaries, activities, and duration of visits
- Consider trial visits to ensure a good fit
- Verify references or background if desired for added confidence
Regular and flexible home visits offer safe, meaningful, and flexible companionship, supporting older adults at home without replacing professional care.
Next steps
For Families
Explore companion options and find someone who can visit and provide presence at home
Find companionsFor Companions
Learn how to offer regular or flexible visits while respecting boundaries and independence
Learn more