Safety & Boundaries

Clear expectations for everyone involved

GoodCompany exists to facilitate safe, appropriate, in-person social visits. Clear boundaries protect older adults, companions, and families, and help ensure visits remain comfortable and within scope.

What GoodCompany visits are

GoodCompany visits are:

  • Social and conversational
  • Intergenerational
  • Interest-based
  • Structured and agreed in advance

Visits are designed to feel settled and unhurried, with an expected length of 2 hours.

What GoodCompany visits are not

GoodCompany is not a care, medical, or therapeutic service.

Visits do not include:

  • Personal or intimate care
  • Medical or mental health support
  • Counselling or therapy
  • Household tasks or errands
  • Handling money, banking, or valuables

Any activity outside this scope is not permitted.

Boundaries and appropriate conduct

All placements must remain within the agreed scope of companionship.

This applies equally to:

  • Families
  • Older adults
  • Companions

If boundaries are tested, blurred, or repeatedly crossed, the placement will be reviewed and may be paused or ended.

Safeguarding and checks

To protect everyone involved:

  • Companions complete identity verification and background checks before placements begin
  • Placements are confirmed by us before any visits take place
  • We remain involved throughout placements, not just at the start

Ongoing check-ins

We carry out periodic check-ins to ensure:

  • Visits remain comfortable and appropriate
  • Expectations remain aligned
  • Everyone feels safe continuing

Check-ins may be conducted with:

  • The booking family member
  • The older adult directly
  • The companion

When we intervene

GoodCompany may pause or end a placement if:

  • The scope of companionship is repeatedly exceeded
  • Safety concerns are raised
  • Commitments are not respected
  • Behaviour makes anyone feel uncomfortable

In these cases, we may offer a replacement match or end the arrangement entirely.

Zero-tolerance areas

GoodCompany has a zero-tolerance policy for:

  • Financial involvement
  • Coercion or pressure of any kind
  • Requests for care, therapy, or medical support
  • Inappropriate or exploitative behaviour

Breaches may result in immediate termination of access to the service.

Our role

GoodCompany facilitates introductions, matching, and oversight. We are not present during visits but remain responsible for maintaining standards and boundaries across all placements.

Companions may change year to year due to life or study commitments. Where this happens, we support a clear and respectful transition, including arranging a replacement match where appropriate.

Questions or concerns

If something does not feel right at any point, we encourage families and companions to contact us promptly so we can review the situation.