New to this topic, but a lot has changed here. Does the old fashioned companion still exist?

[TheThreeHeadedBeast]

Mum is in hospital, after a number of falls. At the moment she is not expected to recover.

That leaves Dad at home, I am with him for the week, but live 3 hours drive away.
My sister lives quite close but has her own family and full-time job.

Dad will be set-up with a microwave and a bunch of ready meals. He is a bit doddery but otherwise OK.

My sister can pop-in daily at least for a bit. But Dad is going to get very bored on his own all day. Hence is there anybody that will visit and sit and chat

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/befriending-services/

Age UK have a couple of befriending services if that helps.

Great minds @LipstickLil !

😁

If you are prepared to pay for this then yes. I clean for an elderly gentleman but part of my job is keeping him company and chatting to him. Sometimes I do this whilst cleaning, sometimes I sit. For instance today we had a singalong. He knows lots about my life and the people in it as he doesn't really leave his house so I just chatter away to him.

Yes and they advertise in the back of The Lady.

Was going to say The Lady

Check locally. There's an organisation near me who visit people in their homes. take them to hospital appointments, take them for days out, lunch etc. They're fab. You might have something similar

And if he can get out and about, there will be day clubs and coffee mornings.

If he has space and wants company there are schemes where someone can rent a rooms below maket rate in return for companionship, and doing a set number of hours help around the house .

Do "Home Instead" serve your area? They're a paid service who can offer cleaning /caring/befriending as needed. They visited my father for a couple of hours cleaning and company each day, he is now in a care home and one of them still visits weekly as a paid befriender just for company.

Local day centres, lunch clubs etc can be good for company too, and might be able to collect him. Each area is different!

If he is the type of person who has a shed, this might suit once he feels able
https://menssheds.org.uk/find-a-shed/

Thank you so much for this help. The lady who comes into clean is lovely and has offered to pop in more frequently.
I will check out age UK and if there is a home instead round here