When hiring in-home care for a loved one, it can be hard to distinguish between different types of caregiving. In particular, many families are unsure of the distinction between personal care and companion care, which are two of the most common types of in-home care.

The core distinction between these two types of care is help with Activities of Daily Living, as well as any other caregiving tasks that direct physical assistance. Personal caregivers have specific skills and abilities that allow them to provide direct physical assistance, while also performing other caregiving duties.

Companion caregivers, on the other hand, can assist with activities such as errands or light housekeeping. However, they are unable to assist with Activities of Daily Living or perform other tasks that involve physical assistance.

Because of this distinction, we recommend personal care services if your loved one requires direct physical assistance. We may also recommend this type of care if your loved one has a chronic health condition, such as diabetes or dementia. If your loved one does not require this level of assistance, we may recommend companion care services instead.