Caregivers vs. Cleaning Service vs. Retained Chores: How to Decide Which Household Chores Stay and Go
The elderly prefer living in their homes for as long as possible. However, handling ordinary household chores may become increasingly challenging as they continue to age.
While continuing to perform household chores in old age is beneficial for their health (boosting attention span, cognition, and physical vigor), sometimes their strength may fail them. It could even be risky at times, especially if they're too frail to perform certain chores without risking a fall.
Fortunately, options (e.g., caregivers and cleaning services) are available to help them continue living in their homes comfortably. If you're considering hiring help for yourself or your elderly loved one, read on for tips on deciding which chores to retain and those you may need to outsource.
Engaging Caregivers
Staying at home provides the elderly with many benefits, such as comfort and independence. However, when they can no longer perform some household chores by themselves,hiring caregivers becomes essential. It grants them access to personalized care within the comfort of their home while enjoying social interaction with the caregivers.
In South Bend, Indiana, the extent of the services the caregivers can provide depend on the level of independence of the elderly. Some of the chores they could help with could include;
- Shopping assistance and running other errands
- Meal planning and preparation
- Providing transportation to doctor's appointments and other activities
- Light housekeeping services
Hiring a Cleaning Service
Sometimes the elderly may be capable of doing minor chores such as personal care, preparing meals, etc. However, they may have difficulty doing heavy cleaning. In this case, a South Bend cleaning company personne l can come over as frequently as needed (biweekly, weekly, monthly) to help with the cleaning. Besides ensuring the elderly lives in a clean and hygienic environment without over-exerting themselves, having others assist with cleaning can reduce the risk of accidents.
Examples of household chores a cleaning company could take up may include;
- Dusting and vacuuming surfaces
- General cleaning
- Mopping floors
- Taking out the trash
- Laundry and ironing of clothes
- Cleaning bathrooms
- Polishing silverware
- Organizing cabinets, closets, cupboards, etc.
- Cleaning stoves and ovens
- Sanitizing countertops and other surfaces
Retained Chores
As much as chores help the elderly remain active, their safety should be prioritized. The rule of the thumb is to ensure they don't over-exert themselves or engage in tasks that may put their safety at risk. For instance, if they have a challenge remembering things, they may want to delegate chores that require close monitoring, such as cooking.
Nonetheless, retaining some tasks should help them remain physically active and feel good about themselves at the same time. Thus,providing a further boost to their mental health.
Examples of safe chores may include;
- Folding laundry
- Making the bed
- Polishing and dusting furniture
- Trimming the lawn using a riding lawn mower
- Vacuuming the floor
- Preparing meals
- Dog walking
Manage Your Senior Loved Ones' Household Chores Today
With most elderly preferring living at home instead of moving to a senior-living facility, understanding which household chores they can perform safely and those that should be delegated to caregivers or a cleaning company can go a long way in promoting their physical, mental, and social well-being while safeguarding their safety.
If your loved one or even you need the help of experienced and compassionate caregivers in South Bend, Goshen, Elkhart, or Mishawaka, Indiana, contact us at Senior Helpers. We will be delighted to provide the needed support.