Companions for Living Announces Specialization in Memory Care
Companions for Living is the first home care company in Greater Hartford with caregivers certified to provide specialized memory support services for older adults and their families. Companions for Living (CFL), established in 2005 and based in West Hartford, specializes in companion, homemaker, personal care and lifestyle coaching services in Hartford County and throughout Connecticut. CFL is a holistic company that enables older adults and disabled individuals to remain at home safely and independently.
“I founded Companions for Living with the belief that everyone deserves to be engaged and fulfilled,” said company president Julianne Roth. “We strive to consistently help each of our clients achieve these goals. Considering the growing population requiring memory support, we are now the only home care company in the area that has certified caregivers to provide these specialized services.”
CFL partnered with Hebrew Health Care’s Dementia Care Services Department to provide program development, consultation and staff education. Certified CFL staff and caregivers take a capabilities-oriented approach with each individual client and their family to assess unique needs and interests. Then, a customized plan is developed to maximize functional abilities and satisfy interests to improve quality of life. For example, if a client has difficulty communicating in a customary manner, the caregiver can determine the best way to interpret his or her intention by knowing the right cues to listen and look for.
“We speak dementia,” adds Roth. “For individuals with memory loss and for their families, our goals are to increase engagement, fulfillment, and the ability to communicate.
These are some of the beneficial outcomes that CFL’s memory support services can help older adults and their families learn and apply:
- How to communicate well and stay active and involved with activities and others;
- How to manage changes in behavior and daily habits;
- How to get some relief and respite for family caregivers;
- How to make the home as comfortable and safe as possible;
- And how to know if and when it’s time to consider getting more support and/or related services.
Memory support is now available as part of Companions for Living’s core services, provided on an hourly or live-in basis. For more information and to make an appointment for a personal consultation, please call (860) 882-0802 or visit www.companionsforliving.com.
Photo: Companions for Living (CFL) staff members (left-to-right): Frank Day*, Director of Human Resources; Elaine Reid*, Director of Client Relations; Kristina Garcia, Office Manager; Elise Andreu-Goldberg, Office Assistant; and Julianne Roth*, President. *Each of these CFL staff members is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) accredited by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.
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