Companionship

Adult companion services allow a person age 18 or older to hire a community member to help them work toward a therapeutic or community integration goal.

Adult companion services may include:

  • Practicing coping skills to help with social anxiety by attending a movie with a companion.
  • Attending a community event with a companion to help reduce social isolation.
  • Improving fine motor skills by playing games with a companion.
  • Receiving verbal instructions from a companion to help complete a task.
  • Shopping with a companion to practice budgeting skills.

The following would not be included:

  • Assistance with activities of daily living
  • Hands-on nursing care
  • Any service provided by a person that is related to the person by blood, marriage, or adoption
  • Socialization that is for recreation or pleasure only

PossAbilities is a 245D licensed provider. We function as the employer for the companion that is hired by providing the necessary training and payroll.

FAQ’s

PossAbilities accepts the following funding sources for adult companion services:

PossAbilities does not provide support staff for adult companion services. Here are some tips for finding a companion:

  • You can find someone you know.
    • Inform your friends, neighbors, co-workers, school teachers, etc. that you are looking for a companion.
  • You can find someone on social media.
    • Post on your personal Facebook page or community Facebook page that you are looking for a companion. Many communities also have job pages on Facebook where you can list your job.
  • Post Flyers
    • Create a “hiring flyer” and hang it up at your local community center, school district, grocery store, gas station, restaurant, or other facilities in town that are frequently trafficked.
  • Creating a job posting with PossAbilities
    • Fill out the Job Posting Agreement form provided by PossAbilities. You can request the Job Posting Agreement Form from our Individualized Home Supports and Respite Manager. By filling out this form with the required details, PossAbilities can help you look for support workers.

Tips for Recruiting a Support Worker:

  • Be specific about what you are looking for in a support worker, including the schedule of hours needed, type of job tasks, age requirements, experience requirements, and location of the job. Will this be a permanent or temporary job? The more details you provide, the more likely it is that you will find the right candidate to work with you.
  • Once you have a candidate(s), you will want to interview them to ensure they are the correct fit for your needs. You may also want to set a time to have them interact with the individual they will be working with.
  • PossAbilities is here to help coach and assist you through the process as needed.

PossAbilities is able to provide adult companion services anywhere in Minnesota.

Questions can be e-mailed to POSM@PossAbilities.org or call (507) 281-6116.

Additional information about adult companion services can also be accessed on the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.