Roles we place
Companions for older clients
A companion keeps an older person company and keeps their life going: meals taken together, the walk that would otherwise not happen, the letters answered and the calendar kept.
| Usually engaged by | Families on behalf of a parent; sometimes the client themselves |
|---|---|
| Live-in | About half |
| Our search | Usually three to five weeks |
| Placed in 2025 | Nineteen |
What a companion does
Companions keep older clients company at home and out of it: conversation, meals, walks, drives to the club, the doctor and the grandchildren, help with correspondence and the calendar, reading aloud, an arm on the stairs. A good companion notices when something has changed, and tells the family, with the client’s knowledge, before it becomes a crisis.
Our companions do not give medical or personal care, and we do not place them as nurses or caregivers. Where a client needs care, we work alongside the agency or clinic that provides it.
Living in
About half our companions live in. That means someone is in the house at night, which is what most families want, but it does not mean someone is awake. Live-in companions have their hours and their rest written into their agreements, like every member of staff we place, and calls at night are recorded and paid.
Who we look for
Kathleen Strickland looks for patience, curiosity and good manners above formal experience. Many of our companions have worked in hospitality, in teaching or in the arts. Some have looked after a parent of their own. All of them must be safe drivers, good cooks of plain food and comfortable with silence.
When a placement ends
Companion placements end, sooner or later, for reasons nobody wants. When they do, we ask families to tell us early, so that the end can be gentle for everyone, including the companion. Where a family or an estate wishes to keep a companion on for a time, to look after a house that is being closed or sold, we can arrange that on our temporary terms.