---
title: "Senior Companion Care: Benefits, Alternatives & More"
description: Senior companion care can be immensely beneficial for older adults. Discover why establishing strong social ties is crucial, healthy alternatives and more.
image: https://blog.elliq.com/hubfs/shutterstock_482415037-1.jpg
---
[Buy Now](https://elliq.com/products/elliq)
- Meet ElliQ
- [About](https://elliq.com/pages/meet-elliq)
- [Healthcare](https://elliq.com/pages/healthcare)
- [FAQs](https://elliq.com/pages/faqs)
- [Demo](https://elliq.com/pages/live-demo)
- [Family & Caregivers](https://elliq.com/pages/elliq-app)
- [Funded Programs](https://elliq.com/pages/free)
- [Testimonials](https://elliq.com/pages/testimonials)
- [News](https://elliq.com/pages/press)
- [Partners](https://elliq.com/pages/partners)
- [Blog](https://blog.elliq.com/)
- [Buy Now](https://elliq.com/products/elliq)
## Senior Companion Care: Benefits, Alternatives & More
December 1, 2019 by [Intuition Robotics Team](https://blog.elliq.com/author/intuition-robotics-team)
[Social isolation](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/social-isolation)
#### Share
Today, nearly [29% of older adults live alone](https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/geriatrics/social-issues-in-older-adults/older-adults-living-alone), without their partners or loved ones around. As if that wasn’t a big enough challenge, families nowadays have become smaller and are drifting farther apart, moving cities, states and even oceans away. As a result, older adults living away from their loved ones are quickly becoming one of the most isolated - and coincidingly, lonely - demographics among our society.
Though more attention is finally being paid to the extent of this loneliness, we’re now at a critical turning point - and we’re beginning to understand just how immense the consequences of loneliness can be on older adults’ memories, mental and physical health, and even life expectancy.
[One study found](https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3024&context=facpub) that loneliness has the equivalent health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes per day, comparable to other leading mortality risk factors like alcohol or obesity. [AARP also determined](https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2017/10/medicare-spends-more-on-socially-isolated-older-adults.pdf) that health issues associated with social isolation in older adults leads to an estimated $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending.
Yet despite the momentous, alarming evidence on the consequences of loneliness, it’s still widely disregarded and stigmatized. Think about it - no one wants to admit that they’re lonely, or confront the staggering repercussions.
We firmly believe otherwise - that it’s now more critical than ever to spread awareness, and take immediate, concerted action to prevent, combat, and alleviate loneliness among older adults across the globe.
Despite how arduous devising a solution for this large-scale issue might seem, there are a number of simple, feasible ways to ameliorate loneliness. One of the most advantageous approaches is to incorporate meaningful social activities, such as companion care or social engagement groups with other like-minded individuals.
Let’s take a closer look at senior companion care specifically, and explore the major benefits that it can provide, why it’s so crucial, and how to select and incorporate the right options and alternatives.
## The loneliness epidemic
In one recent [study conducted by the University of California at San Francisco](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4383762/), 43% of older adult participants admitted to feelings of loneliness. In another [study by the University of Michigan](https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/148147/NPHA_Loneliness-Report_FINAL-030419.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y), 34% of participants felt a lack of companionship, while 27% felt socially isolated - and that’s just those who were *willing* to admit these sentiments.
Because loneliness is still highly stigmatized, many people suffering from symptoms prefer to keep this to themselves, rather than openly share how they feel with others or work on a strategy to improve their situation.
Though loneliness can of course happen to anyone, because of their lifestyle, older adults unfortunately tend to be most susceptible - especially those living alone, isolated and disconnected from some of the prominent social engagement that their younger counterparts partake in on a regular basis (such as working, commuting or seeing loved ones daily).
And the impacts of loneliness throughout the aging process are pretty alarming - it can lead to a [26% increased mortality risk](https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3024&context=facpub), as well as higher risks for [a variety of physical and mental conditions](https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks), like heart disease, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease.
While finding a realistic means to reverse loneliness and its effects among older adults may seem rather daunting and improbable, there’s growing evidence that suggests quite the contrary.
Fortunately, transforming the current paradigm isn’t as complex as it seems - we can dramatically prevent and curtail the effects of loneliness by creating and maintaining strong, meaningful social ties.
## Senior companion care: Why it’s so imperative
Perhaps not surprisingly, [AARP research](https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/surveys_statistics/life-leisure/2018/loneliness-social-connections-2018.doi.10.26419-2Fres.00246.001.pdf) concluded that social and community engagement are some of the key catalysts in combating loneliness.
In fact, Timothy B. Smith, a professor at Brigham Young University, claims that older adults that maintain strong social ties even live an average of [4 years longer than others](https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2018/loneliness-isolation-social-network.html), and the impact of strong social ties “is as powerful as quitting smoking, losing weight or improving fitness,” according to research director of National Seniors Australia.
Clearly it’s imperative that older adults remain as socially active, connected, and involved as possible throughout their advancing years - for this, senior companion care can be a fantastic, highly feasible option.
What exactly is senior companion care, and what does it entail? Essentially, it’s the process by which younger social companions (typically volunteers) make a concerted effort to regularly spend time with older adults in their homes, ideally over a long period of time.
This is primarily to provide emotional support and comfort, as well as to build and maintain these strong, vital social ties. The frequency and duration of these companions’ visits can vary, but typically, even just an hour per week can make a huge difference.
Through this type of deliberate, continuous social interaction, older adults can form and maintain powerful social connections to prevent, combat, and alleviate loneliness - as well as its negative health repercussions.
## Finding the right social engagement options
Although senior companion care is a wonderful component to keeping older adults socially active and engaged, it’s certainly not the only option. There are a number of great senior care and/or community involvement opportunities available that can help prevent and alleviate loneliness, fit for virtually any schedule and budget.
Some of the most prevalent alternatives include the following.
## Maintaining strong social ties in the future
One of the first steps in the right direction towards tackling and alleviating the loneliness epidemic is mere awareness - understanding the scale and impact of this growing issue, and what each of us can do about it.
By staying as socially involved, engaged and empowered as possible through activities like companion care, community groups, and connecting with loved ones, either online or in person, older adults will not only continue to develop and enhance meaningful relationships - they’ll also have the ability to drastically improve their mental and physical health.
As awareness and research around this topic continue to advance, one thing’s for sure - it’s time to usher in a new era of [happier, healthier aging](http://elliq.com) for all. The more we continue to educate older adults, as well as their loved ones and caregivers, on the importance of creating and maintaining strong social ties, the more we’ll be able to keep them socially active, affable, and flourishing throughout this unique, meaningful chapter in life.
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2969058/21dab065-f033-40d6-b0e6-6abe409706ab)
## Enjoy healthier, happier days at home with ElliQ.
ElliQ is now commercially available
[Buy Now!](##)
#### Share
[##](##)
### [5 Inspiring Seniors Defying Age Stereotypes](https://blog.elliq.com/5-inspiring-seniors-defying-age-stereotypes)
by Intuition Robotics Team
[Empowered aging](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/empowered-aging)
November 14, 2019
### [Seniors Watching TV: Companionship or Hindrance?](https://blog.elliq.com/seniors-watching-tv-companionship-or-hinderance)
by Intuition Robotics Team
[Social isolation](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/social-isolation)
August 20, 2019
## Recent posts
### [ Battling Loneliness In Older Adulthood](https://blog.elliq.com/senior-companion-care-benefits-alternatives-and-more)
by Intuition Robotics Team
[Healthy aging](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/healthy-aging) [Staying connected](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/staying-connected) [Loneliness](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/loneliness)
June 13, 2024
### [ How ElliQ Can Support Seniors Living With Parkinson’s](https://blog.elliq.com/senior-companion-care-benefits-alternatives-and-more)
by Intuition Robotics Team
[Healthy aging](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/healthy-aging) [Staying connected](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/staying-connected) [Loneliness](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/loneliness)
May 20, 2024
### [.png) The benefits of an AI-driven social robot for area agencies on aging](https://blog.elliq.com/senior-companion-care-benefits-alternatives-and-more)
by Intuition Robotics Team
[Healthy aging](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/healthy-aging) [Staying connected](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/staying-connected) [Loneliness](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/loneliness) [Health Plans](https://blog.elliq.com/tag/health-plans)
April 26, 2024
x
Try ElliQ for 30 days risk-free - no commitment, no hassle, and no strings attached!
Unleash the full potential of ElliQ with our 30-day free trial, giving you peace of mind and the freedom to explore its benefits. Experience the power of AI firsthand, enabling informed decision-making based on your real-world experience.
- [Meet ElliQ](https://elliq.com/pages/meet-elliq)
- [User Stories](https://elliq.com/pages/testimonials)
- [In the press](https://elliq.com/pages/press)
- [Company](https://www.intuitionrobotics.com/about)
- [Blog](https://blog.elliq.com/)
- [Buy Now](https://elliq.com/products/elliq)
- [Referral Partners](https://elliq.com/pages/referral-partners)
- [Website Terms of Use](https://elliq.com/pages/website-tou)
- [Website Privacy Policy](https://elliq.com/pages/website-privacy-policy)
- [ElliQ Terms of Use](https://elliq.com/pages/elliq-tou)
- [ElliQ Privacy Policy](https://elliq.com/pages/elliq-privacy-policy)
-
-
-
For information, please email [hello@elliq.com](mailto:hello@elliq.com)
For support, please email [help@elliq.com](mailto:help@elliq.com) or call (855) 888-1295
© Intuition Robotics 2022
2345 Yale Street, 1st Floor, Palo Alto CA