What Is the Difference Between a Companion and a Nursing Assistant?

If you need assistance you may want to hire a companion or nursing assistant. Decisions about who to hire depends on what you need the person to do.

Companion

• A companion's duties may be just be conversation, or or they may cook, clean house, run errands, drive or do other daily chores you need help with.

Companion Training

• Although there are Certified Companion Aide (CCA) programs, formal training is not required in most cases; however, experience and good references are critical.

Nursing Assistant

• Nursing assistants, also called nurse aides, certified nursing assistants, orderlies and other titles, have a wide variety of duties. Some may do the same tasks a companion does. Those in hospitals, nursing homes or home health agencies may also help dress, bathe, dress wounds or take routine medical information such as temperature, pulse and blood pressure.

Nursing Assistant Training

• Some states require all assistants to be licensed. Many assistants receive training in high school, vocational school, community college or on the job. Nursing assistants in nursing care facilities are required by federal law to have at least 75 hours training and must pass an evaluation to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA). If the assistant is paid by Medicare they must have passed a competency test.

Need

• If your needs are not medical, a companion may charge less and be adequate for your needs. If you have medical issues, finding a trained nursing assistant may be more appropriate to help with your care.