Companionship & Cognitive Support
About this service
Loneliness and social isolation worsen health outcomes for many Albertans, especially older adults. Our companions provide meaningful connection, routine cueing, engagement activities, and gentle safety oversight at home and in the community. For clients living with memory changes, we use dementia-capable approaches (validation, redirection, simplified choices) and connect families to 24/7 811 Dementia Advice for clinical guidance when needed. Where appropriate, we reinforce evidence-based cognitive stimulation activities that support orientation, communication, and daily confidence.
Who it’s for
- Adults and older adults who feel isolated, have limited social supports, or would benefit from structured day routines and check-ins. Canadian data show large proportions of older adults are at risk of isolation or have experienced loneliness.
- People with mild cognitive impairment or dementia who need cueing, calm communication, and safe engagement; Alberta offers 24/7 Dementia Advice via Health Link.
- Family caregivers seeking short, reliable respite periods during the week (AHS also coordinates facility-based or in-home respite through Home Care).
What´s included in the service?
Friendly Visits & Conversation
Companionship tailored to interests (music, news, faith/culture, photo albums) to reduce isolation and support mood. Evidence links reduced isolation with better health outcomes.
Cognitive Engagement
Reminiscence, word games, reading aloud, simple crafts, orientation prompts (date, schedule), and reinforcement of clinician-recommended cognitive stimulation activities.
Routine & Cueing
Gentle prompts for hydration, meals, medications (reminders only), and daily structure (calendars, checklists). Home Care in Alberta routinely supports ADLs and medication assistance/cueing as part of community care.
Safety Check-ins
Brief home scans (stove off, doors/lighting, clear pathways) and escalation to family or nurse if concerns arise; we follow AHS Routine Practices for infection prevention in all care settings.
Accompanied Outings
Supported walks, community programs, coffee visits, or library trips; transportation/parking are arranged per policy when applicable (see our Transport & Escort service).
(Note: medication administration and clinical treatments are not part of Companionship; those are delivered under Nursing Care.)
Frequently asked questions
Is Companionship covered by CDHCI?
CDHCI funds service hours authorized by an AHS case manager, typically for personal care, essential health-linked homemaking, and in-home respite. Pure social companionship by itself is usually private-pay, but some tasks can be paired with authorized health/safety activities during funded hours. Check your AHS care plan; approved hours are billed to Alberta Blue Cross.
We care for someone with dementia—what extra support is available?
In addition to our dementia-capable approaches, Alberta offers Dementia Advice via 811: a Health Link nurse assesses concerns and, when needed, refers to a specialized dementia nurse for follow-up. Keep this number handy for urgent, non-emergent questions.
Do you provide caregiver respite?
Yes—bookable respite blocks are common in this service; AHS also coordinates facility-based or in-home respite through Home Care. Ask your case manager about options.
What kinds of activities actually help cognition?
Structured cognitive stimulation (short, regular sessions that combine orientation and conversation-based tasks) has research support as a non-drug intervention for people with mild to moderate dementia; we can reinforce clinician-recommended versions at home.
How do you manage infection prevention during visits?
We apply AHS Routine Practices every visit (hand hygiene, risk-based PPE, cleaning of high-touch items we used), which are required in all care settings to help break the chain of infection.
Download our guide
Check out our guide to Home and Community Care.