ARTICLES / General /
Companions Provide Solutions /
Other ArticlesBy Janet Trakin, Staff Writer
So how does one go about finding a
companion for his or her loved one? There are community
services and religious organizations that offer
services. Oftentimes, the family can look for services
on the Internet or through periodicals. Ms. Kislik
volunteered with the Jewish Family Services, for
example. “Churches and services for the elderly all
provide links and phone numbers to arrange for
companions. Some are volunteers and some are paid,” she
explained.
There are rewards and things to be learned from being a
companion as well as the support they provide to family
members who live far away—not to mention the joy it
brings to the loved one. “It really becomes like a
grandmother/grandchild, mother/daughter relationship. It
becomes a very personal relationship,” Ms. Kislik said.
“People treat older people as if they are incompetent,
can’t hear or can’t see or they make assumptions about
old people. The most important thing to remember is the
elderly are people just like me and you. They have minds
and needs and all of these things. My rewards are mostly
personal. I happen to like people very much. I
especially like older people. It’s a self-rewarding
thing. You feel good because you know what you do is
important.”
If you are in need of a companion for your loved one,
contact Jewish Family Services or your local religious
or community service organization.
