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Elderly Companion Service - Andy (10th Nov 2025 - 13:44:14) Hello everyone 👋 I’m starting a local elderly companion service for those who’d like a friendly face to visit, help with errands, or just enjoy a chat and a cuppa. I’ve lived locally for years and want to offer a trustworthy, caring service for older adults who could use a bit of company or support. Would anyone be interested in this kind of service (for yourself or a relative)? email: andydamato@gmail.com Andy (DBS checked and starting soon)

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Old Person (10th Nov 2025 - 17:54:26) Is this ..... something you charge for ...... ???

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Andy (11th Nov 2025 - 11:31:07) Yes, I offer one-to-one paid visits for older adults. It's something I've wanted to do for a while, and I'm keeping it really personal and affordable.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - C (12th Nov 2025 - 17:38:38) This sounds great, in theory. However, aren’t paid care services subject to CQC registration, criminal records checks etc?

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Joe (12th Nov 2025 - 19:59:41) The poster has said they are DBS checked and no nursing service is being given.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - D (13th Nov 2025 - 08:41:50) I have seen this offered by larger care companies. Nothing wrong with it at all, but if you're in a situation where you have to pay someone to be your companion then I would consider alternatives such as the day centre, you get a nice meal as well.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - jenny (13th Nov 2025 - 09:37:24) why are people so suspicious of kindness........? great thing to do when there are so many lonely people out there

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Joe (13th Nov 2025 - 09:48:56) Nothing wrong with the day centre but you have to be taken there and back again, so if you have no transport could get pricey. The service also offers doing shopping.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - L Morton (13th Nov 2025 - 10:16:48) The Day Centre offers free transport if you live in Bramshott and Liphook

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Andy (13th Nov 2025 - 10:17:12) Thank you all for the feedback so far, it’s very much appreciated! Joe, thank you, you are absolutely right - I do not offer care services. D - That’s a fair point regarding a day centre, and they are fantastic option — my wife actually manages our local one, so I know first-hand how much people get out of attending! I see companion services as something that can work alongside places like the day centre rather than instead of them. For some people, having one-to-one support at home can be a great way to complement what they do at the centre, or fill the gaps on days when it isn’t open. Both have their place in helping people stay connected and supported.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - paul (13th Nov 2025 - 11:35:38) Hi, I think this individual paid for, elderly service a good idea. There are many older people in our village, that live alone. They often need help, and company for loneliness. They maybe disabled, for shopping etc. Widows, widowers, and single persons, don't always have nearby family, or friends, to help in day-to-day living. Good luck Andy.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - D (13th Nov 2025 - 17:18:46) Hear hear, Paul. If helping with things such as shopping and maybe help with paying bills etc then yes, good idea. Would be handy if you have a few friends who maybe able to step into the breach should you be unwell.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - C (13th Nov 2025 - 20:18:51) Think this is a great thing to offer. Some people don’t have family and perhaps friends have all passed away. Good luck with it.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Simon (14th Nov 2025 - 11:44:32) Sounds like a good idea Andy, wish you luck with it.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Susie (14th Nov 2025 - 12:32:41) Liphookonians This type of care is classed as "Domiciliary care",it is regulated by CQC as someone has already mentioned. Its a registered service that doesn't particularly provide nursing care rather social care at home. Nothing new about it whatsoever but and a big but it's more than a DBS check That's only the start..... check it out properly and be very careful who you let into your home,DBS just means you haven't been caught yet.....or not in that name it's widely abused and so is this type or informal service flying under the radar... Safeguarding is the starting point and it's a requirement to provide this service along with many other requirements. Compare it to settling up chilld minding,a registered service but often informal arrangements, accidents and incidents waiting to happen just as in this service Andy is offering only he intends to go into elderly vulnerable adults homes, scares me and would not be happening to anyone i know, there's a system already in place with a framework you should be operating within it. Here endeth the lesson, stay safe!

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Joe (14th Nov 2025 - 13:04:02) All very laudable Suze to quote an ideal world situation, but as far as I am aware social services do not provide companionship services or shopping services. Also even registered carers are sometimes out to steal from the elderly working for a registered agency is no guarentee of probity. My mother went into a local authority care home the staff there stole all her jewellery. All a registered care provider would do would be DBS checks on their staff, and that only works properly if the staff are traceable in the Uk records.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - D (14th Nov 2025 - 13:23:50) Suzie, I'm not knocking your comments at all, I agree with everything you've said. BUT, as a child of two ill octogenarians I can tell you the majority of elderly get sweet fa in the way of help and assistance. Even the day centre they have to pay for, it's not free. If I were elderly and infirm I would be happy to pay someone to help me with shopping, medical appointments, housework, gardening, day to day running of the house, domestic admin, etc. The only unknown here is the price and given that visiting carers are paid about twenty quid an hour (nowhere near enough) it might be out of most elderly people's budget. Not knocking the poster, hope it works out.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Susie (15th Nov 2025 - 02:30:09) @Joe If your post is with reference to mine i didn't mention social services, perhaps reread it

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Susie (15th Nov 2025 - 02:41:54) @D The only unknown here is whether the OP is registered with CQC because it is a legal requirement when providing care services and companionship / support services falls under this remit. Its aka Health & Social Care Act 2008 check it out for yourself. Many of us have elderly family members and they are at risk of abuse because they are vulnerable tons of examples, perhaps dyor

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Joe (15th Nov 2025 - 03:37:03) Most care these days is provided via private agencies whether or not you have finsncial help for it from the local authority. The care provided to my mother was from people registered with the CQC and her jewellery was still stolen and she ended up hospitalised with severe bruising due to abuse from registered care staff. Scant protection against abuse.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - CL (15th Nov 2025 - 21:24:34) Suze you are wrong. The OP is NOT offering personal care services and therefore CQC registration is not a requirement. In fact as far as I’m aware even an individual working on a self employed basis offering a personal care service does not need to be CQC registered. I would imagine insurance is probably the only requirement of someone offering this kind of service. Good luck Andy and I hope this works out for you.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Susie (16th Nov 2025 - 06:56:50) @CL If you are referring to my post,it is correct, but perhaps you are referring to ano because you haven't written the name correctly either. DYOR & don't be silly with your retort, maybe I specialise in this line of work,ha ha.

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Hannah Murray (19th Nov 2025 - 21:01:58) Suzie - you are 100% incorrect, Andy is NOT offering personal care and therefore CQC registration is not a requirement. I work for a charity that employs over 900 Home Helps offering this precise service and CQC registration is not required. I think you should stand corrected on this one!

Re: Elderly Companion Service - Susie (20th Nov 2025 - 20:51:46) @Hannah If you are referring to my post, your spelling of my name is incorrect and so possibly not me. However to be clear this isn't relevant to personal care,rather the OP refers to "companionship"which is a regulated service. Your comments aren't correct check it out & dyor.

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