Errands are the small jobs that keep a household running: the groceries, the pharmacy pickup, the parcel, the dry cleaning. A companion does them for the person, or alongside them, so the week does not stall on the things that are hard to get to. It is non-medical, everyday help, from someone you choose.
What a visit looks like
A shopping list written together at the kitchen table, the shop done, and everything put away where it lives. A prescription picked up from the pharmacy. A parcel returned. A library book renewed. The kind of jobs that take an hour and change the whole week.
Some people want the errands done while they rest. Others want to come along and choose their own tomatoes. Both are fine, and the companion follows their lead.
What a companion does
- Grocery shopping from a list, and putting everything away
- Picking up prescriptions the pharmacy has already prepared
- Post office, parcel returns, and dry cleaning
- Small household supplies, from light bulbs to batteries
- Going along to the shops, so the person still chooses for themselves
- Checking what is running low before the next visit
What a companion does not do
- Handling the person's money, bank cards, or PINs. The family arranges payment
- Collecting cash, making bank deposits, or paying bills on someone's behalf
- Deciding what someone should buy, eat, or take
- Anything about medication beyond carrying home a prepared prescription
- Signing for anything on the person's behalf
A companion goes with you; they never drive you and never provide the vehicle. You arrange the ride, or you travel together by transit, taxi or rideshare.
Saheli is non-medical. Companions do not replace family, nurses, doctors, or personal support workers. They add something different: human presence.
On every visit, whatever the service, a companion does not provide:
- Counselling or therapy
- Advice about health, treatment, diet, legal matters, or money
- Lifting or transferring someone who cannot bear their own weight
- Handling money or signing documents
- Nursing or medical care, including injections, wound care, or monitoring a health condition
- Administering medication. A companion does not give, measure, sort, or apply it, or decide anything about it. Reminders for a plan already set are fine
- Anything that needs a regulated health professional
For anything medical, speak to a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. In an emergency, call 911.
Who this is for
People for whom the everyday jobs have become hard to get to, and families who cannot always be there to do them.
At home
Someone who finds the shops hard now
Heavy bags, long aisles, a bus each way. When the weekly shop becomes a whole day's effort, a companion takes it on, or comes along and carries.
For a younger person
A young person practising doing it themselves
The shop, the list, the till: everyday things that get easier with someone steady alongside who does not rush them. A parent or guardian arranges it and stays responsible for their care, and a companion goes with them rather than taking over.
Recovering
Someone home after a hospital stay, a procedure, or an illness
The fridge empties and the prescription is waiting at the pharmacy. A companion keeps the house stocked while the person gets their strength back.
For families and caregivers
A family that cannot do the running around
You work, or you live far away, or you are already doing everything else. A companion you choose does the shop and the pickups, and tells you what is running low.
Familiar food
Someone who wants their own ingredients
The right dal, the right rice, the brand of tea they have always had. A companion who knows the shops brings back the real thing, not the nearest thing.
Getting out
Someone who would rather go along
For many people the outing is the point. A companion goes with them, carries the bags, and keeps the person in charge of what goes in the basket.
Everyday help
Someone with a list that never gets shorter
The parcel to return, the prescription to collect, the bulb that needs changing. An hour with a companion clears the list and the worry that comes with it.
How it works
- 01
Browse companions
Use the filters to find people who fit your language, community, and needs.
- 02
Choose who feels right
Review companions and decide who you want to meet. Nobody gets assigned to you.
- 03
Agree on the details
You and the companion set the visits, tasks, and hourly rate before care starts.
Companions who offer this
Each companion sets their own hourly rate, and you see it before you book.
Dedicated caregiver with a passion for supporting seniors age with dignity.
Activities of daily living note below:- bathing Toileting grooming Feeding Walks Medication reminders Exercises Errands Companionship
I enjoy spending meaningful time with people through friendly conversations, including regular telephone conversations, listening to their stories, go…
I’m passionate about helping others, building meaningful connections, and creating a safe, welcoming environment.
A warm, caring, and dependable companion dedicated to person-centered care.
I’m a caring, patient, and reliable person with a PSW background and a degree in psychology.
Questions
How does the companion pay for the shopping?
The family arranges payment. Common ways are a prepaid card in the person's name, paying online for pickup, or a running account with the shop. A companion never handles the person's cash, bank card, or PIN. Agree the method before the first visit.
Can a companion pick up a prescription?
Yes, once the pharmacy has prepared it. The companion brings it home and hands it over. They do not give medication, decide when it is taken, or discuss it with the pharmacist on the person's behalf.
Does the companion drive to the shops?
No. A companion never drives the person or provides the vehicle. If the person comes along, the two travel together by transit, taxi, or rideshare, or the family arranges the ride. A companion doing the errands alone travels their own way.
Can the companion shop at our usual stores?
Yes. Tell them where you shop and what brands matter. Many companions know the stores that carry the ingredients a household is used to, and that is often why families choose them.
How long does an errands visit take?
Most are one to two hours. You and the companion agree the list and the time before the visit, and the companion is paid for their time, not per errand.
What do errands cost?
Each companion sets their own hourly rate for errands, shown on their profile before you book. Saheli adds a service fee as its own line before checkout, and the companion keeps their full rate. The family pays for the shopping itself.
Find care that feels like family
Browse vetted companions, matched on language and the traditions that already feel like home.