Opieka Ltd can offer flexible befriending and companionship services for people who may feel isolated and lonely, or maybe just need a little extra company and conversation. Our clients have found that regular companionship can really make a difference to their wellbeing, and helps them to feel stimulated both physically and mentally.
Companionship can bring entertainment, social interaction, and mental stimulation to anybody in need, and help to keep feelings of loneliness and isolation at bay.
Isolation in later life is a serious and common problem, with over one million elderly people in the UK admitting to often or always feeling lonely. Sometimes, older people are reluctant to reach out to busy friends and relatives for support, and fear being seen as a burden. As people grow older, it can be all too easy for them to become lonely and isolated. If someone loses their mobility through illness or general old age, they might not be able to go and about as they once did, maybe their friends or spouse have passed away. People often find themselves lonely and frustrated at not being able to live the life they always have done and report that the television or the radio is their only company.
Companionship services can involve different things to each individual and can cover a wide range of activities. Sometimes just having someone to sit and chat with over a nice cup of tea can provide comfort to people, companionship can also involve a range of social activities, it may be reminiscing about the past and creating scrap books / life history books, it may involve organising family photo albums, it may involve a trip out to the seaside for some fish and trips and a walk along the promenade. The options are endless as it depends on what the individual wants and we can tailor our services to meet their needs.
Most people take for granted the people they see every day, and how easy it is for them to pop out to see someone when they need company, but elderly people should not be forgotten in this respect just because they cannot do the same.