Homemaking Helps!

Sometimes it gets difficult for mom or dad to do the simple things around the house, such as cooking and cleaning, or doing the little fix-up chores. If your loved one is getting along in years, they just don’t have the energy that they used to. Or the time it requires.

In this case, a caretaker can fill in the gaps. Why not have such a professional service person such as a caregiver take care of these daily chores? There are lots of benefits of having a caretaker, such as companionship, and personal care.

More than Utility

Google defines homemaking as “the creation and management of a home, especially as a pleasant place in which to live.” Yes, help with the chores is important. But making a home for your loved one involves more than utilitarian needs to survive. But what about the warmth of others that makes a house a home? If it’s difficult for a family member to supply this, a caretaker/homemaker can fit the bill.

Hiring someone may make the elderly person feel that they are losing their personal freedom. But if it’s getting more difficult for them because of age or sickness, help is what is needed. If mom likes cooking or dad likes little projects to do around the house, why not have the caretaker do the cleanup while your loved one takes a nap?

Homemaking is one of the chief duties of caretakers. Google search records show that the use of the term caretaker in search queries has increased about 25% over the last five years. Thus, many more persons are seeking information about caretakers, and that includes hiring them.

Hiring a caretaker who is a good homemaker has benefits. Let’s say that a family needs someone to help out their elderly parent with homemaking tasks around the house. It’s very likely that this parent will need eventually help with more essential needs such as dressing, bathing, walking and so on. If the family hires someone to do this, they will be preparing for these future times. The aging parent on the other hand, will become accustomed to having a helper around the house.

The Ultimate Role

There are many benefits of a private caregiver that lead to a happier life.

Homemakers, for one, carry out an important function in society. Here are the words of the noted writer and novelist C.S. Lewis:

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only – and that is to support the ultimate career. ”

– C.S. Lewis

Here’s another quote, by the author of Little Women,

“Go out more, keep cheerful as well as busy, for you are the sunshine maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather.”

– Louisa May Alcott

Time for Personal Growth

There’s another benefit to having help around the home. Your elder will have more time on their hands. Here are some ideas, some of which are taken from the popular blog Richly Rooted.

• Read like crazy. Expand your horizons. Fiction, non-fiction, history, biographies, etc.
• Write a memoir. Think and write about your family’s life, not for the sake of publishing it, but so that future generations can enjoy reading about what life was like for grandma and grandpa.
• Play your favorite instrument. Or learn how to play one. Is it piano, guitar, clarinet? Fill your house with music. Sing along with music from when you were younger.
• Strengthen relationships with family and friends. Keep in touch more. Make those bonds stronger. Send not only emails, but old-fashioned hand-written notes and letters. Or make virtual visits by Zoom or other online systems.
• Increase your activity and get healthier. A good caretaker can also work with you on a daily stretching and exercise routine. You could get out more with walks, or visits to parks or just shopping. As you age, it’s important to build activity into your schedule, since those aches and pains can intimidate us.
• Volunteer. Help others while you help yourself. If your elder is healthy enough, there are needs everywhere. Check with your local non-profit, government or church group. Feed the hungry, clothe those who need it, teach the ignorant.
• Become a more spiritual person. Do you pray? Or wish you could pray better? Were you brought up in a denomination? Are there answers there? How could you grow if you got in touch with God more?

“Keeping a home not only requires time, energy and creativity, but it also calls for skills and experience.”

– Dorothy Kelley Patterson

You might also want to read more on our website about these related topics: respite care, meals and nutrition, errands and transportation, 24/7 live-in care, and activities.

“The beauty of the house is order;

The blessing of the house is contentment;

The glory of the house is hospitality;

The crown of the house is Godliness.”

– Anonymous author