How Popovers vets a companion before the first visit.

We meet applicants rather than approving them from a form alone. The conversation is meant to reveal how someone listens, handles silence, talks about older adults, and responds when a visit does not go exactly as planned.

We are looking for people who treat older adults as whole people—not patients, projects, or fragile props. Warmth matters, but so do judgment, boundaries, and the ability to show up reliably.

Every approved companion must pass a criminal background check before taking a visit. A completed check is one part of the decision, not a substitute for the interview or references.

If any stage raises a concern about safety, honesty, or judgment, we do not approve the applicant. Passing one stage does not cancel out a concern found in another.

Approved companions provide references we can actually call. Useful references may come from past care roles, work, volunteer service, school, mentoring, or community relationships.

We listen for concrete examples: Did the applicant follow through? Were they trusted around other people? How did they handle responsibility, conflict, or an unexpected situation? Specific stories tell us more than a generic endorsement.

Vetting reduces risk; it does not make risk disappear. That is why Popovers also limits the scope of visits, keeps booking details together in the platform, and asks families to share relevant mobility and safety information before a visit.

Companions provide non-medical company. They do not administer medication, provide personal care, lift someone, handle money, or access passwords and accounts. A clear role makes it easier for everyone to recognize when a request falls outside the service.

When booking opens in a market, families will see an approved companion’s photo, bio, and availability before sending a request. The goal is not just to confirm that someone cleared the process, but to help the family choose a person who feels like a comfortable fit.