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Companion Housekeeper

A companion housekeeper, also known as a companions or companion carer is an essential asset to any home where an individual or an elderly couple require someone with them during the day or night to assist with everyday tasks and provide companionship.

Housekeepers can be employed on a full or part time basis and their responsibilities meticulously tailored to meet the specific needs of each household. Many Housekeepers employed to provide professional services for elderly people are live-in and are provided with a room of their own, this is an ideal solution for an elderly person who may require assistance during the night.

There are several options to choose from;

  • Temporary – A temporary Housekeeper could be required to provide an extra set of hands to support an elderly individual or couple during a period of illness, or perhaps to cover the temporary absence of a spouse or family member.
  • Part Time – Hiring a Housekeeper on a part time basis could help an elderly person to retain their independence and make it possible for them to retain the quality of life they are accustomed to in the comfort of their own home. An elderly person who is struggling with some of the more physically demanding aspects of running their home could benefit from the part time services of a housekeeper.
  • Full Time – Housekeepers employed to support elderly people in their own home and take care of day-to-day tasks provide a valuable service that can significantly reduce the need for premature institutional care and significantly relieve the strain on family caregivers.

TASKS

The type of services and responsibilities provided by a Housekeeper cover a broad spectrum of areas as the needs of each individual and household vary considerably.

Services could include any combination of the following:

The tasks required could include:

  • Shopping for weekly essentials and running general errands
  • Accompanying on special and regular outings
  • Cooking and sharing meals
  • Light domestic support such as cleaning, laundry, care of pets
  • Light gardening duties
  • Participating in hobbies and crafts
  • Helping with travel arrangements and accompanying to appointments
  • Assisting with correspondence and paperwork

All associated tasks should be outlined initially within the job description. They can be discussed in more detail later on during the interview stage. The loss of strength and mobility in later life can make it difficult for elderly people to take care of certain tasks themselves and over time, these needs may change.

REDUCE STRESS

Employing a Housekeeper can relieve family caregivers of a great deal of the pressure and worry associated with making sure an elderly loved one is safe and properly cared for once they begin to struggle with the usual tasks associated with running a home.

Additional domestic support also reduces a great deal of stress for any elderly person who wishes to remain in the comfort of their own home, but requires a little extra help to enable them to do so.

The companionship provided by a live-in housekeeper can improve quality of life for an elderly person and prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation.

PEACE OF MIND

When looking for the right individual to fill a position in your home it is essential that thorough background checks are always made to ensure that your security and safety are not compromised in any way.

The tasks required could include:

  • Shopping for weekly essentials and running general errands
  • Accompanying on special and regular outings
  • Cooking and sharing meals
  • Light domestic support such as cleaning, laundry, care of pets
  • Light gardening duties
  • Participating in hobbies and crafts
  • Helping with travel arrangements and accompanying to appointments
  • Assisting with correspondence and paperwork

Companion housekeepers will not necessarily be qualified carers or nurses and therefore will not be expected to administer special medication. Eden Private Staff can however source and provide qualified carers for clients if required. We also recruit for households with young children or young adults, where the companion housekeeper works alongside a more specialist carer or a nurse.

Companion housekeepers are often employed on a ‘live in’ basis and will expect to receive full board and lodging as part of their role. As agreed in advance with the client, they should also have two full days off per week. We recommend that live in companion housekeepers are paid are minimum of £450 per week net.

All of the companion housekeepers we put forward for consideration will have a current DBS disclosure (police records check) and their own transportation. We also ensure that all candidates are carefully and thoroughly reference checked and interviewed by one of our consultants. We do also recommend that prospective clients speak to the referees themselves.

We can source companion housekeepers to work all over the UK and the world – clients within the UK range from Cornwall to Scotland and international clients range from Europe to the middle east and the Americas.

Click here to register as client or please call Polly Lambert, Laura Rock or Karen Digby.