RentAFriend's homepage now reads "platonic companionship, companion, caregiver, respite", and "hire a friend for elderly" has become one of the most common searches around the service. Families are looking for someone to spend time with a parent who is alone. This page is the honest version of what a rented friend can and cannot be for that.
Two different jobs#
| Companion visit | Caregiving |
|---|---|
| Conversation, cards, a walk, lunch out, a drive, a game on TV | Medication, bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, mobility help |
| Someone friendly, reliable, patient | Someone trained, insured, supervised |
| A friend platform can do this | Never a rented friend: licensed home-care agency, trained aide, or nurse |
The line is simple: if the person needs help with their body or their medication, or has dementia and should not be left alone, that is care, and a friend platform is the wrong tool, whatever its homepage says.
What RentAFriend advertises, and what it does not check#
RentAFriend has added companion-care and respite language to its site and lists people who offer visits to older adults. Two things to know from press and member reports: the site does not run background checks, and payment is cash, directly to the person. If you use it for a parent, you are the vetting: meet the person first, check ID, ask for references, start with a visit you attend, and never hand over keys, cards or medication. Membership is about $24.95 a month to message. Is RentAFriend legit? covers the general picture.
What Roavi is, and is not#
Roavi is a platform where travellers and newcomers hire a Local Friend, an adult who shows them their city for a few hours. Every member is 18 or over and every profile is reviewed by a person, and meetups are social and in public. It is not an elder-care service and does not vet for it; if your parent is independent and would enjoy an afternoon out with someone local (a museum, a meal, a ball game), a Local Friend can be good company. If what you need is a regular visitor to check on someone, or any help with care, use an agency.
What companion care costs through agencies#
Licensed non-medical home-care agencies in the US commonly quote about $25 to $35 an hour for companion care, often with a two- to four-hour minimum per visit, and they carry insurance, run background checks and send a replacement when someone is sick. An independent companion from a friend platform costs their own rate, often $20 to $50 an hour, with none of that behind them. The agency premium buys the checks.
The questions to ask anyone#
- Can I see your ID and speak to two references?
- Are you insured, and what happens if my parent falls while you are there?
- Will you text me when you arrive and leave?
- What will you never do (medication, money, keys)?
- Can we start with a visit I attend?
Anyone offended by the list is the wrong person.
Social company for an independent adult, in public, at their rate.
Meet local guidesRead next: hire a friend near me, rent a friend to talk, RentAFriend review.
Where senior companions sit among the rest: companion for hire.
Every city where you can do this today, with the live number of Local Friends in each: rent a friend, by the hour. In the United States the list is also by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire a friend to visit my elderly parent?
For company, yes: conversation, a walk, a meal out, a drive to the park, a game on TV together. For care (medication, bathing, mobility, dementia supervision), no: that is caregiving and needs a licensed agency or trained aide. RentAFriend now advertises companion and respite listings but does not run background checks; Roavi is social and travel company for adults, not elder care.How much does companion care for the elderly cost?
Through licensed home-care agencies in the US, non-medical companion care is commonly quoted around $25 to $35 an hour with minimum visits. An independent companion from a friend platform charges their own rate, often $20 to $50 an hour, with no agency vetting; you do the checks.