What Does a Papa Pal Do?

Papa Pals are changing the way we care for each other. Explore what companion care looks like.

Being a Papa Pal offers flexibility, friendship, fulfillment, and more

The team at Papa had one fundamental goal in mind when they created the company—to support older adults, seniors, and families throughout the aging journey with caring assistance and companionship.

What does a Papa Pal do? Papa Pals can help Papa members, including older adults, seniors, and families, in many ways. For example, they can drive them to doctor's appointments and offer a helping hand at the grocery store or pharmacy.
Do people often describe you as a people person? If so, you could be a wonderful Papa Pal companion caregiver.

What is a Papa Pal?

Papa Pals are companion caregivers who support older adults, seniors and families. Papa Pals are kind, compassionate people who want to give back to their communities. They work part-time and set their own schedules.

What does a Papa Pal do?

Papa Pals help Papa members, including older adults, seniors, and families in many ways. For example, they can drive them to doctor's appointments and offer a helping hand at the grocery store or pharmacy.

Papa Pals can also help members around the house with laundry, light cleaning, and meal prep, as well as other household tasks. Anything that a family member would do, a Papa Pal can do. 

Papa Pals show companionship and kindness throughout each one of these tasks. 

But being a Papa Pal is not just about getting things done. A Papa Pal’s main goal is to provide companionship.

What types of visits can a Papa Pal do?

Papa Pals help Papa members in many ways. Let's explore the different types of visits that Papa Pals and members enjoy together.

Companionship

Loneliness is a big problem for older adults and seniors across the country. Many visits simply involve companionship, not tasks. Papa Pals and members enjoy spending time playing board games, watching TV, doing a jigsaw puzzle, and chatting about current events. Pals who have a passion for playing guitar, for example, can show members how to play a few chords to a simple melody. The most important aspect of these visits is fellowship and friendship.

Papa Pals lend a helping hand inside and outside the house.
Papa Pal companion caregivers can help outside in the garden with watering plants.

House Tasks and Light Gardening

Papa Pals lend a helping hand inside and outside the house. These tasks can include folding laundry, light cleaning, and watering plants. There’s always something to help around the house with, including changing batteries in smoke alarms and replacing light bulbs.

Many Papa members appreciate someone who inspires organization in their space. Let’s say a member needs to declutter their closet. Papa Pals can help members go through items they would like to keep or donate. 

Papa Pals with a passion for cooking can also help members meal prep for the week. They can also help to declutter the fridge and cupboards, so it’s easier to see healthy food options.

Transportation

Papa Pals who have an approved vehicle will be able to provide car rides, which are also called transportation visits. Some of these visits involve picking up and dropping off a member at an appointment to ensure they receive the medical care they need. At times, these visits require Papa Pals to stay with the member. Transportation visits might also include driving a member to a specialized exercise class or physical therapy.

But it’s not just about getting from Point A to Point B. Going for a drive can be a wonderful opportunity to share musical tastes or exchange life stories. Plus, staying connected to the community by getting out and about is helpful for everyone’s wellness.

Tech-savvy Papa Pals are standing by to help with tech support for a range of devices.
If you're interested in teaching technology to seniors in your community, become a Papa Pal companion caregiver.

Tech Help

Tech-savvy Papa Pals are standing by to help with tech support for a range of devices. They’re also happy to teach basic tech to Papa members. Papa Pals can handle just about anything, from tablets to Ring doorbells to smart watches. They can also demonstrate how to use apps, set up virtual doctor’s appointments, and access helpful resources. If getting online is a challenge, Papa Pals can also help members navigate installing new equipment, including Wi-Fi routers.

Grocery Shopping

Helping someone with groceries is more than just shopping. When you help with groceries, you can ensure they have healthy food and all the supplies they need. 

Grocery shopping can involve an array of different impactful tasks. Papa Pals can accompany a member to the grocery store and help them pick things off shelves that are too high or low. It may also include packing groceries at the store, then unpacking them to take home. Other times, these visits can be delivering groceries to the doorstep to provide a contactless experience, if needed.

When you become a Papa Pal companion caregiver, you can focus on pet care by helping Papa members look after their four-legged friends.
When you become a Papa Pal companion caregiver, you can focus on pet care by helping Papa members look after their pets.

Pet Care

Pet care visits are a good opportunity to help a member with daily pet tasks that are sometimes difficult to accomplish alone. The typical pet care visit includes dog walking, play time, scooping animal poop, or emptying the litter box. Plus, Papa Pals make sure that biscuit bowls and water dishes are fresh and full. 

Papa Pals and members often walk a dog together, enjoying companionship and exercise. Notably, Papa Pals who offer pet care can help pet owners in times of need. For example, when someone is recovering from surgery or an injury, a Papa Pal can help with dog walking.

Child/Parental Support

In this type of visit, Papa Pals support members who are parents with children over the age of 3. Since the pandemic, many of our lives have changed, especially the childcare dynamic. Papa Pals might provide support for a parent who is working from home and needs some focus time. Or, they can lend an extra hand with childcare while a parent is recovering from surgery or an injury. Notably, parents are always present for this type of visit.

Become a Papa Pal

When you’re a Papa Pal, you see first-hand how the work you do helps others. From the smiles that greet you when you arrive for a visit, to the satisfaction of knowing that your words and actions make a difference, it’s enriching work.

Being a Papa Pal offers flexibility, friendship, fulfillment, and much more. Once you're accepted as a Papa Pal, you'll have the opportunity to work as often as you choose. Being a Papa Pal is rewarding in so many ways.

Click here to learn more about becoming a Papa Pal.