Is Companion Care enough for early-stage dementia?

Early-stage dementia in a Southeast Michigan household often looks like a person who is still independent with ADLs but forgetting appointments, missing meals, or losing the thread of the day. That is Companion Care territory ($27–$32/hr) — a trained caregiver in the home for a few hours to prompt meals, remind medications, drive to appointments, and keep the day on track.

The Companion Care caregiver is not trained for hands-on ADL work. The moment the person needs help getting into the shower, transferring off the toilet, or being dressed, the case moves to Personal Care ($29–$37/hr). This is not a rate grab — it is a compliance and safety rule. Personal Care caregivers train in transfer mechanics, gait belt use, and shower safety in ways Companion caregivers do not.

Specialized dementia care ($35–$42/hr) becomes the right band when behavior complexity appears: refusal of care, sundowning agitation, wandering, or validation-therapy needs. Some cases move Companion → Personal → Specialized over 12–24 months as the disease progresses. Some jump straight from Companion to Specialized because the physical ADL work stays light but the behaviors intensify.

For early-stage cases, most Southeast Michigan families start at 4–8 hours per week of Companion Care ($108–$256/week), timed on the highest-strain day. It is often enough to reverse the drift for six to twelve months before the case genuinely needs more.

For the full breakdown, see the cornerstone: Dementia Care at Home guide.