Companionship care
Loneliness and social isolation are serious health risks for older people — linked to depression, cognitive decline, and physical ill-health. Companionship care addresses this directly, and it's often available free or at low cost.
The loneliness problem
Around 1.4 million older people in England are often or always lonely. Chronic loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It's a risk factor for dementia, depression, heart disease, and early death.
Yet loneliness is often overlooked in care planning. Families focus on physical needs — washing, medication, meals — and the emotional and social dimension gets left out. Companionship care fills that gap, sometimes making the difference between a person who is merely safe and one who is genuinely living well.
What companionship care involves
Regular visits
Weekly or twice-weekly visits from a consistent companion — someone they can build a genuine relationship with.
Outings and activities
Going for walks, visiting a café, attending local events, or pursuing a hobby together.
Telephone befriending
Regular phone calls for those with mobility issues or who live far from family.
Technology support
Help using tablets for video calls with family, or joining online social groups.
Sitting service
Staying with a person for a few hours while family members take a break.
Day centre attendance
Accompanying someone to a day centre and collecting them afterwards.
Free companionship services
Before spending anything, check what's available free through charities and local councils:
Age UK
Age UK runs befriending services across England, both telephone-based and in-person. Many local Age UK branches also run social clubs and day centres.
Visit websiteRe-engage
Re-engage (formerly Contact the Elderly) runs monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for isolated older people, and telephone friendship groups.
Visit websiteThe Silver Line
A free, confidential helpline for older people — open 24 hours, 365 days a year. Offers telephone friendship as well as crisis support.
Visit websiteLocal council direct payments
After a care needs assessment, your council may fund companionship support through a direct payment or a personal budget. Ask specifically about social and emotional wellbeing support.
If you're paying for companionship care
Private companionship care typically costs £15-25/hour. When choosing a provider, ask:
- Will the same companion visit each time, or does it vary? (Consistency is crucial for trust)
- How do you match companions to clients? Do they share interests?
- What happens if the companion isn't a good fit?
- Are companions employed or self-employed? Who conducts DBS checks?
- Do you have any testimonials or references from other families?
Not sure which pathway is right?
Use our free care finder or start the Care Journey to explore all your options step by step.