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Health care provider vs companion

The differences between health care providers and companions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a health care provider has an average salary of $39,309, which is higher than the $29,246 average annual salary of a companion.

The top three skills for a health care provider include patients, meal prep and mental health. The most important skills for a companion are companionship, patients, and home health.

Health care provider vs companion overview

Health Care ProviderCompanion
Yearly salary$39,309$29,246
Hourly rate$18.90$14.06
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs236,09875,753
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 28%
Average age5048
Years of experience--

What does a health care provider do?

A health care provider offers health care services such as the diagnosis of diseases in medical laboratories, imaging centers, or treatment services. Your job responsibility as a health care provider may be to look after the well-being of patients and provide specific medical care to them. Your job is to meet clients at the point of their needs when they have medical challenges and provide a solution to them.

What does a companion do?

A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients. They also monitor the patients' medication, prepare their meals based on a medical professional's prescription, support them on their daily activities, respond to the patients' needs and special requests as allowed, and report any developments to their family or guardians. A companion must be compassionate enough to extend physical and emotional support, depending on the client's condition.

Health care provider vs companion salary

Health care providers and companions have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Care ProviderCompanion
Average salary$39,309$29,246
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $61,000Between $22,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Merck
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between health care provider and companion education

There are a few differences between a health care provider and a companion in terms of educational background:

Health Care ProviderCompanion
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 28%
Most common majorBusinessNursing
Most common college--

Health care provider vs companion demographics

Here are the differences between health care providers' and companions' demographics:

Health Care ProviderCompanion
Average age5048
Gender ratioMale, 20.1% Female, 79.9%Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 24.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 35.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage5%7%

Differences between health care provider and companion duties and responsibilities

Health care provider example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator settings, suction tracheostomy, tube-feeding assistance.
  • Provide assistance including administering prescribe oral medications to ADL patients.
  • Maintain all client confidentiality, licensing and CPR compliance records.
  • Full personal care attendant, CPR license, documentation, friendly and courteous.
  • Help with daily activities, transfers, bathing, medical documentation, ordering supplies, and catheter care.
  • Provide support and aid in problematic situations involving incontinence, cognitive impairment, mobility, and Alzheimer care.
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Companion example responsibilities.

  • Assist residents with use of bedpans, urinals, commode, and bathroom and assist with routine catheter care.
  • Experience with wind care, colostomy, fluid and electrolyte balance; assist with ambulation, ADL's and medication administration.
  • Provide companionship to elderly patients which also include feeding and light bathing
  • Perform first aid, knowledgeable with CPR.
  • Display empathy, compassion, care, and love.
  • Used skills as: compassion, listening, problem solving.
  • Show more

Health care provider vs companion skills

Common health care provider skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Meal Prep, 11%
  • Mental Health, 9%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Laundry Services, 7%
  • Home Health, 7%
Common companion skills
  • Companionship, 20%
  • Patients, 16%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Provide Emotional Support, 7%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Meal Prep, 5%

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