Plain answers about companionship care
What it costs, what it is and is not, how to pay for it, and how to choose well. Written for families in Greater Manchester, with every figure traced to its source.
7 September 2026 · 3 min read
Can Attendance Allowance pay for companionship care? The 2026 rates and how to claim
Attendance Allowance is £76.70 or £114.60 a week from April 2026, is not means-tested and has no rules about how it is spent. Here is who qualifies, how to claim, and what it covers.
7 September 2026 · 4 min read
Companionship care vs home care: what is the difference, and which one do you need?
The legal line between companionship and regulated home care in England, what "personal care" means under the 2014 Regulations, and how to tell which service a relative actually needs.
7 September 2026 · 3 min read
How much does companionship care cost in Greater Manchester in 2026?
What companionship visits cost in Greater Manchester in 2026, what is and is not included, how the price compares with regulated home care, and what a week's visits add up to.
7 September 2026 · 4 min read
How to choose a companionship service: twelve questions to ask before you book
The questions that separate a safe, well-run companionship service from a directory of strangers: employment status, DBS checks, insurance, backup, pricing and the personal care boundary.
7 September 2026 · 3 min read
Loneliness among older people in Greater Manchester: the numbers, borough by borough
How many over-65s live in each of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs, and what Age UK's national loneliness rates imply for each one. Method and sources included.
7 September 2026 · 3 min read
A break for family carers: how a weekly companionship visit works as respite, and what you are entitled to
How unpaid carers in Greater Manchester use a regular companionship visit as a break, the carer's assessment every carer is entitled to under the Care Act 2014, and the 2026/27 Carer's Allowance rate.
Start with a conversation, not a contract
Tell us who the visits are for and where they live. If we can help, we will arrange a free meet-and-greet with the companion we have in mind. If we cannot, we will say so and point you somewhere that can.