Why it is so important to have someone around as an older adult

Imagine sitting down to eat dinner alone. The sound of the fork against the plate, the quiet hum of the refrigerator, the absence of another person’s rhythm beside you. Now, imagine that same meal, but with someone sitting next to you. They’re not speaking, not filling the air with words, just there. You feel their presence. Suddenly, the space feels different, warmer, fuller, more human.

For many people living with dementia, that kind of quiet companionship can mean more than any conversation. Words can sometimes become confusing or overwhelming, but presence, the simple act of being there, transcends language. It’s something felt, not explained.

When someone spends their days in a chair, surrounded only by the sound of a television or distant voices, life can begin to feel isolating. The world keeps moving, but they remain still. Having someone choose to sit with them, with no phone, no distractions, and no agenda, that alone can bring comfort and connection. It says, “You matter. I’m here.”

At Recare Home Services, we see this power of presence every day. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments don’t come from structured activities or planned conversations, but from shared silence sitting side by side, holding a hand, or simply existing together in calm.

Of course, adding gentle activities like music, art, or touch can deepen that connection, but we’ll leave that for another discussion. Because before any activity, before any plan or program, there’s the foundation of care itself: presence.

Sometimes, that’s all someone needs.