companion

In health care and caregiving, a companion, sitter, or private duty is a job title for someone hired to work with one patient (or occasionally two). Companions work in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and private homes, and their duties range from advanced medical care to simple companionship and observation. They may be qualified, for example as a nursing assistant. Types of caregiving based on the location Hospitals In hospitals, sitters are hired by the hospital for patients who cannot remain unsupervised for even a short period of time. These include patients who are at risk for injury to themselves or others due to disorientation or combativeness, and those whose vital signs are severely unstable. Companions also work on psychiatric wards or in mental institutions, caring for patients who have been observed attempting suicide. This is known as suicide watch or intense suicide observation. Nursing homes In a nursing home or assisted living facility, a companion or sitter is often hired by the resident or his/her family to provide personal care to the patient at a level that cannot be provided by the facility's nursing staff, in which each member is responsible for a much larger number of patients. These private duty nurses and aides may provide more immediate and detailed service, whereas facility staff can only reach the patient in turn and provide less frequent, rudimentary care. Companions in nursing homes also provide social companionship.