Dementia Companion, in Your Loved One's Own Language

Someone who speaks their language, understands their culture and knows their story. Livia's Dementia Companion program pairs your loved one with one certified PSW and a weekly plan shaped around who they are.

Available at home, or alongside the care in a long-term care or retirement home.

Why language and culture matter in dementia care

As dementia progresses, many people might lose the ability to use a language they learned later in life. They often feel most at ease in their first language, with familiar food, music and customs. A caregiver who shares that background can offer comfort and connection that is hard to find any other way.

Our caregivers speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Urdu, Arabic, Farsi, Vietnamese , Filipino, Nepali, Tibetan, and other languages. If your loved one speaks a language that isn't listed, tell us. We'll look for a caregiver who speaks it and keep you updated on what we find.

What the program includes

Their mother tongue and culture. A caregiver who speaks their first language and understands their culture, so each visit feels familiar.

A plan built around them. Music, art, stories or movement, chosen from their life story and adapted for dementia.

Everyday comfort. Meals, walks, nail care and toileting support. In a care home, we coordinate with the home's staff.

The same caregiver every visit. Consistency builds trust, and trust makes everything else easier.

A weekly update. A short note on mood, participation and meaningful moments, sent to you every week.

Dementia care at home

At home, your caregiver keeps days calm and predictable: familiar routines, gentle redirection when things feel confusing, and safety-focused support. This can also give family caregivers regular, reliable time to rest.

Companion care in a long-term care or retirement home

Care home teams look after many residents at once, so regular one-on-one time in each resident's own language is hard to offer everyone. A Livia companion adds that personal time alongside the care the home already provides, working within the home's guidelines and with its staff.

Close to your parent, wherever you live

If you live in another city or country, you'll get a weekly written update, regular calls with Samantha, and a call right away if something needs your attention. We want to be your trusted face here, close to your parent.

Questions Families Ask

What is dementia companion care?

It’s one-on-one care from a certified PSW, designed for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Our companions use approaches like Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA), a method widely used in Ontario for responding to distress calmly and respectfully. We also take a strength-based approach: we focus on what your loved one can still do and enjoy, and build each visit around it through music, art, stories or movement. With Livia, the companion also speaks their language, understands their culture and follows a weekly plan built from their life story.

Can a Livia companion visit my parent in a long-term care or retirement home?

Yes. The companion adds one-on-one time alongside the care the home provides, working within the home's guidelines and coordinating with its staff.

Does this replace the care home's staff?

No. Livia adds personal attention, familiar language and meaningful activity on top of the care your loved one already receives.

What kinds of activities are included? Music, art, stories, walks or gentle movement, chosen from your loved one's history and adapted for dementia. Everyday support like meals, nail care and toileting is included too.

My parent speaks a language you don't list. Can you still help?

Tell us the language. We'll look for a caregiver who speaks it and let you know honestly what we find.

How will I know how my loved one is doing?

Every week you'll get a short note on mood, participation and meaningful moments, plus regular calls with Samantha.

What happens if my loved one’s companion is sick or away?

A backup caregiver steps in. Familiar faces matter even more with dementia, so where we can, we introduce the backup ahead of time, and they follow the same plan built around your loved one.

What happens in an emergency?

All our caregivers are trained in First Aid and CPR. In a medical emergency, or if your loved one goes missing, your caregiver calls 911 first, then Samantha, who is reachable after hours for emergencies and will call you right away. Before care starts, we gather emergency contacts, health details and a recent photo, so everyone can act quickly.

What is the minimum visit length?

Visits are typically a minimum of 3 hours, at home or in a care home. That gives your loved one time to settle in, feel at ease and enjoy an activity without being rushed. If we can match a caregiver who lives nearby, 2-hour visits may be possible. There’s no weekly minimum, so you can start with one visit a week and add more as your loved one gets comfortable.

Tell us about your loved one

Share a little about who your loved one is, and we'll talk through what a good week could look like for them.

Call or text 647-693-1504 or email us care@liviacare.ca