In the country I live at the moment, it is common to have a lady living in the house of an elderly person in good health but not enough to do their own cleaning or groceries. It is helpful and reassuring in case the older person falls and it also keep them company.

Those companions/helpers are often foreign (Ukrainiens at the moment) and are not expensive as you can imagine. However they receive food and lodging in addition to their agreed salary.

It seems to be beneficial relationships in more than one way as they keep company to each other and the helpers might even improve the local language with the person they care for.

This is a solution that I’m considering for my mother who has been very independent all her life and would rather throw herself out of the window rather than going to an expensive nursing home where “everybody are just waiting to die” (her words). I’d imagine the slight diminution of privacy is worth it.