Our program is tailored to meet the personal and individual needs of our clients via three distinct functions:

 

Psychotherapy 

Comfort Companions provides geropsychology services- this is the provision of physical and psychological assessment and intervention services for older adults. We provide direct care, treatment of mental health issues, consultation with medical staff, and assistance with problems interfering with a senior’s quality of life. Difficulty can include the adjustment to permanent placement within an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, isolation, estrangement or discord with family members, coping with a difficult or terminal medical diagnosis or illness, etc. Such issues can contribute to mental and physical health decline as well as a loss of coping mechanisms. 

 

We offer psychotherapeutic treatment by licensed mental health professionals. All of our therapists have a minimum of 5 years of specialized training and service within the geriatric and medical community. Conditions we treat include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, behavioral disorders as related to cognitive deterioration (including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease), adjustment disorders, psychosis…just to name a few. 

 

In addition to traditionally based interventions, we provide specific age-related and specialized interventions such as pet-assisted therapies (particularly successful with less verbal patients and individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease), life review therapy, behavioral management, integrative/holistic therapy, and humanist therapy. Treatment sessions can be weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly… dependent upon individual needs.  

 

We recognize the stress and difficulty that a patient’s adjustment or decline can have upon the family or caretakers. As a result, we also provide therapeutic treatment and support for family members who require our services. This can be particularly true when a patient is nearing the end of life. We specialize in supporting both the patient and family as the end of life nears. This is not to be confused with hospice which is the medically-based provision of patient comfort at end of life. We feel no one should be alone in this particular time of need. We are able to provide the support and emotional care to assist the individual as they near the need for hospice. 

 

All services are provided onsite or in-home and are at no cost to the recipient.

 

Provision of individual needs 

Many of our facility-based residents are placed not only as a result of medical needs but as a result of poverty (including homelessness). They have little to no family left and are of little means. Often this is the final place they will reside for the remainder of their lives. We believe that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves the highest quality of life possible. As a result, we conduct thorough and individual needs assessments. With the help of the client and treating staff, we determine what is needed to increase the patient’s comfort and wellness. These items can include medical or rehabilitative items such as canes and walkers, clothing, blankets, hygiene essentials, electronic devices such a radio or tablet, room decor, games, crafts, activities, cosmetics, welcome baskets for newly admitted patients, etc. Additionally, many skilled nursing facilities do not have the resources to accommodate individualized culturally or religious-based food-related needs. Comfort Companions works with the medical staff or treating physician to obtain specialized meals (such as Kosher foods, Halal-based foods, vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, etc.). During difficult times our clients may require a form of support that we are not trained to offer. This is often in the form of religious and spiritual guidance. Comfort Companions connects patients with ministers, priests, rabbi’s and other religious/spiritual specialists and forms of support. Our recipient's needs are assessed on an ongoing and continuous basis.

 

Peer Support 

The daily life of an individual who resides in a facility or is predominantly home-based can be lonely. Our trained and certified peer support volunteers visit our clients regularly. They spend time with the individual talking, reading to them, engaging in knitting, games, crafting, walks…whatever the participant would like. Our volunteers provide an additional level of support and care that can be invaluable.