One of the luxuries most of us can't afford is a companion. Who wouldn't love having someone around for conversations when we get lonely? This becomes a worse problem as we get older or as our family members get older and need their own companions.

Companion services seems to be one of those areas that most people think is for the well-to-do - not something they or their loved ones could benefit from. But that's not the case. By doing an exchange (room and board for companion help, for example), you could have this type of service in your own home.

There are several forms of these services:

• Companion for seniors - After my grandfather died, my grandmother was extremely lonely for years because he really was her best friend. By bringing in a companion, we could have helped her not feel quite so lonely and could have more easily got her involved in other aspects of society, such as movies.

• Travel companion - I know lots of single people who hate traveling or going on trips alone. It can be scary but also very boring to have this great experience but no one to share it with. By doing an exchange, you could bring someone along to be your travel companion. They could see some fabulous sights and you'd have someone to keep you company along the way.

• Free Child Care - Most parents, myself included, don't like the idea of our children being at home alone even when they are clearly capable of doing so. My daughter is 17, and I worry about her even if I'm only going across town to do some shopping. Having a companion around for your child can be a real plus in this way. They can be a friend, confidante, etc.

• Helpers - Companions and homemakers make a great pair, too. A stay at home parent whose children have started school or left for college could probably benefit greatly from a companion to help ease her that loneliness.

Basically, with these are the types of services you don't want to have to pay for. But when you're making this type of exchange, it's much easier to see each other as a friend and less like an employee/employer.

Several years ago, my grandmother nearly died in her apartment because her blood sugar levels dropped to dangerous levels. She had been living alone for more than two decades since my grandfather had died suddenly, and she loved her freedom. But because this was not the first time this had happened, the decision was made to place her in a nursing home. Unfortunately, this is the only choice many families have when it comes to caring for the elderly.

Thankfully, there is an alternative that could now allow for more senior home care. By offering room and board, you could find companions for the elderly relatives in your family. Imagine having someone at the house with your parent or grandparent to make sure they eat a good meal, take their medication, have someone to contact medical personnel in case of an emergency or a fall. This kind of companion help can provide many positive outcomes:

• Your elderly relative can stay at home longer and doesn't have to give up their independence
• Your family can have greater peace of mind knowing your loved one has reliable senior home care
• Your loved one's care companions can learn and grow by interacting and developing a friendship with someone older and more experienced in the world
• You will be helping someone else who needs a place to stay and food to eat, possibly because they are a struggling student, recently unemployed, or new to the area looking ot get settled

When my grandmother had to move into the nursing home, she was devastated. Most of her belonging had to be sold. She became confided to a bed in a small room for at least 20 hours every day. If we had known how to become a host home or how to find care companions for her, we might have been able to prolong that day and given her a few more great years in her own apartment.

More people and their relatives could benefit by looking into this type of an option for the ones they love the most.