Les Donow with Seniors Helping Seniors does yard work for a client in Satellite Beach.
Companion Care
Local seniors maintain independence
with peer-companion services
B Y K A T I E P A R S O N S
BUSINESS showcase
or move in with other family members, many seniors prefer to “age in place”
in their own homes for as long as possible.
Jennifer Helin is the
co-founder of Seniors
Helping Seniors Brevard
County, which offers
companion care to
bridge the gap from
complete independence
and 24-hour care.
Providers, or companion
caregivers, must be
at least 50 years old
to be hired. The local
franchise employs 85
people, most retired
from first careers — and
serves about 125 clients
per month.
“We like to hire people
with life experience or
someone who has cared
for a husband or wife
or loved one,” Helin
said. “We have someone
who used to work on
Wall Street and he is
an amazing companion
provider.”
Helin started the
business in 2011 with
her mother, Rosemary
Barton, after both
women served in the
role of caregiver for
aging family members.
“My own greatgrandmother
wouldn’t
listen to anyone — she
wanted to remain
independent, even
though she needed
some help,” Helin said.
“I noticed that when
her bingo friends would
suggest something, she
would listen — even
when she wouldn’t listen
to any of her family
members saying the
same thing.”
Helin says that peer
interaction is often
received better. Seniors
Helping Seniors does
not provide medical care
but providers are able to
assist with a lot of other
tasks, including longdistance
well checks.
Marla Ruth sought
out help from Seniors
Helping Seniors when
her mother Marilyn,
now 92, needed some
help a few times per
week. Ruth lives in
Wisconsin and says that
she asked her mother
repeatedly to move
closer to her.
“My mother is
independent. She just
wants to stay and be in
her own home and I
understand that,” Ruth
said. “But I needed to
know she was being
checked on and helped
for my own peace of
mind.”
When services started
for Marilyn, she had
mild dementia. As the
disease progressed, Ruth
said the Seniors Helping
Seniors providers offered
excellent communication
about her mother’s
condition. Once, Marilyn
got lost driving and the
police called Ruth in
Wisconsin. The police
escorted Marilyn home
and it was then she
realized all her personal
belongings were still
in the car. Helin from
Seniors Helping Seniors
retrieved Marilyn’s items
and hand delivered them
to her home, keeping
Ruth in the loop the
whole time.
“They have always gone
above and beyond for my
mother and our family,”
Ruth said.
Les Donow of Merritt
Island, 76, started
working as a provider
in April after retiring
from a career in kitchen
and bath refinishing. He
works 18 to 30 hours
per week, depending on
clients’ needs.
“I get great enjoyment in
helping people who need
some assistance, and just
getting to spend time
with them,” Donow said.
For more information, visit
seniorcarebrevard.com.
Seniors Helping
Seniors Services
In the home:
Companionship,
conversational
interactions
Light housekeeping
Cooking and
shopping
Pet care
Light handyman
services and
repairs
Yard work
Medication
reminders
Safety and fall
prevention
Beyond the home:
Transportation
Errands
Long-distance
check-ins by phone
Overnight stays
and 24-hour care
Photos by
Christina
Stuart
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