Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have absolutely no training or education. They just sit there.

You’re a garbage excuse for a human being.

Ok, so since you’ve name-called the PP pretty harshly, what training and education do they have?

I think "companions" are literally companions, not health care workers. We hired one (retired teacher) to chat with MIL, take her on walks, and engage her.

It sounds like your uncle might need an aide rather than a companion

Anonymous wrote:They have absolutely no training or education. They just sit there.

You’re a garbage excuse for a human being.

They have absolutely no training or education. They just sit there.

Anonymous wrote:This will be someone who is trained to call 911 when something bad happens. That is about it.

This. The only thing I requested from an agency was someone who could cook well, and they couldn't even do that. She was nice though and my mom liked her.

Many home health agencies require and provide CPR training, yes. Many caregivers who have no other licensure have a CPR certification so you can certainly request that and depending on availability you might get it.

But when it comes to elders or patients with early onset dementia who need 24/7 supervision, many (if not most) are DNR status.

CPR is a very invasive and extreme process to inflict on the human body, only a small percentage of people are successfully resuscitated and return to prior baseline, and the vast majority of those receive CPR in a hospital setting from nurses and doctors with life support equipment.

For the large majority of patients, CPR is a hiccup on a fast road to the next incarnation.

If I had a loved one with advancing dementia, there is no way I would want them subjected to CPR to sustain their life of advancing or advanced dementia. Cardiac and cerebrovascular events are God’s way of showing mercy, I believe.

I’ve been working over a decade now as a caregiver to profoundly disabled or demented patients. I am CPR certified and renew my certification regularly. I won’t work for any family that expects me to attempt resuscitation on a patient with advanced dementia. I think that’s cruelty.

Anonymous wrote:I’m assuming that your uncle is can’t be left alone.
What is his condition?

+1
What are his directives--would he even want CPR performed on him?

You can hire people at all different levels. Expect to pay more the more training you want the person to have and the more you expect the person to do.

Basically, they aren't. That's why they are "companions" and not a nurse's aide, or a nurse, or whatever. A set of eyes on the person, maybe some help preparing a simple lunch or something like that. That's about it.

This will be someone who is trained to call 911 when something bad happens. That is about it.

you are in for a shock if you are hoping for trained staff.

I am not aware of any regulations governing companion care. But an agency might have a policy and provide that training. You are just going to have to ask when you call.

I’m assuming that your uncle is can’t be left alone.
What is his condition?

I’ve been looking at various home health agencies to help out my aunt. She is looking for a companion to stay with my uncle so that she can leave the house and get things done several times a week.

I haven’t called any places yet, but one thing I couldn’t really get a concrete answer to by looking online is, do all companions have to know CPR? Or is that just if you get a CNA?