As used in section 13(a)(15) of the Act, the term companionship
services
shall mean those services which provide fellowship, care, and protection
for a person who, because of advanced age or physical or mental
infirmity, cannot care for his or her own needs. Such services may
include household work related to the care of the aged or infirm person
such as meal preparation, bed making, washing of clothes, and other
similar services. They may also include the performance of general
household work: Provided, however, That such work is incidental, i.e.,
does not exceed 20 percent of the total weekly hours worked. The term
``companionship services'' does not include services relating to the
care and protection of the aged or infirm which require and are
performed by trained personnel, such as a registered or practical nurse.
While such trained personnel do not qualify as companions, this fact
does not remove them from the category of covered domestic service
employees when employed in or about a private household.
