It can be challenging to keep on top of daily household tasks for a range of reasons. Mobility issues, lack of energy and age can all make housekeeping particularly difficult and cause daily tasks around the home to accumulate. Professional housekeeping services offer one way to help with the potential burden of these tasks and these services come in many forms.
At Alina Homecare, we offer housekeeping as a form of Home Care services – we often call this Domestic Care. Like professional cleaners, our Carers help with light housekeeping such as vacuuming your or your loved one’s home, making the bed, doing laundry or dusting surfaces. Unlike other professional cleaning teams, who offer cleaning as their primary and only service, our Carers offer a wider range of support to individuals and families. This could include everything from being a kind and comforting presence for the elderly to helping with maintaining personal hygiene or delivering specialist care for conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s and more.
Our guide explores the various housekeeping services available to elderly or those recuperating after a stay in hospital, from Domestic Care services like ours to a house cleaning service available from a dedicated cleaning company. We’ve even included some helpful cleaning tips if you’re helping an elderly family member yourself!
Alina Homecare is an award winning Home Care provider operating in the South of England. If you have extra care needs and want to receive support in the comfort and familiarity of the place you call home, we can help. Find your local Team today.
What is professional housekeeping for the elderly?
Housekeeping is a broad term that refers to all kinds of tasks within the home. In the simplest terms, it means the management of household affairs. Most commonly, it means managing the housework that comes with daily living; whether that’s washing dishes, vacuuming, wiping kitchen worktops or bathroom cleaning – a little help can go a long way. The common expression “healthy home, healthy mind” may not always apply but it does highlight that there’s a connection between wellbeing and feeling comfortable in the place you live.
At Alina Homecare, housekeeping can involve one of our Carers visiting your home to help with housework. Our Team can complete the task themselves, or they’ll work with you or your loved one to help make life easier while maintaining independence and dignity. Our care plans will include details on how you or your loved one like things done, so that your home continues to be the familiar place you know and love.
Our Carers can help maintain a cleaning routine that keeps on top of daily household tasks. However, if you need deep cleaning services, a professional cleaning company may be more in line with your or your loved one’s requirements.
Why is housekeeping important for elderly people?
Enhancing home comfort & hygiene
Professional housekeeping for the elderly can go beyond simply cleaning and organising the home. It’s ultimately about improving comfort and hygiene while keeping your or your loved one’s space just the way you like it. Most importantly, housekeeping can also support with falls prevention, ensuring a safe and healthy living environment for elderly people without trip hazards around that could otherwise pose a risk. From laundry care to preparing meals for the elderly, every aspect can be tailored to meet your or your loved one’s specific cleaning needs, providing peace of mind for both you and your loved one.
Reducing allergens & health hazards
Professional housekeeping for the elderly can play a role in reducing allergens and health hazards in living spaces. Older people can be susceptible to respiratory issues and allergies1, so maintaining a clean environment can help with wellbeing.
Removing dust from surfaces is a simple way of ensuring a healthy environment. Our Carers can help with this and also spot potential health hazards so that the appropriate attention can be given to them. For example, this could be identifying mould so that it can be urgently treated by a professional. Older people may sometimes forget or not notice some hazards, whereas a trained eye can offer reassurance that your or your loved one’s home remains a safe and hygienic space to live.
Meal preparation
Meal preparation is a key aspect of professional housekeeping for the elderly. It involves supporting a regular and nutritious diet, such as helping make a meal, ensuring the fridge and freezer are stocked or prompting you or your loved one to remain hydrated. With meal preparation, elderly individuals can enjoy regular meals even if they have a condition that impairs their memory or they lack appetite. With this kind of support, our Carers can ensure older people focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle for an improved quality of life.
Keeping things just the way you like them
Everyone has their own idea of what their home should look and feel like. Many older people take great pride in their home and struggling to maintain their living space can cause frustration or sadness. Light cleaning is a fundamental aspect of professional housekeeping services for the elderly. For some, maintaining a clutter free environment not only promotes safety and accessibility but also contributes to a sense of peace and tranquillity in living spaces. Regular maintenance tasks such as dusting, vacuuming and organising ensure housework doesn’t become overwhelming. This can also reduce the need for hiring housekeeping cleaning services in the long term or at least reduce the frequency of professional cleanings.
Doing the bins
Doing the bins is an essential task included in professional housekeeping services for seniors. Changing a bin bag can be difficult as it often requires a good level of mobility with bending and lifting heavy bags. Of course, proper waste management is crucial for maintaining a clean and hygienic living environment. Our Carers can ensure bins are emptied regularly, rubbish is disposed of correctly and recycling is sorted appropriately. If your loved one has a condition that impairs memory, our Carers can also help with making sure the bins are put out on the right day and time. By taking care of this, elderly people can avoid exposure to harmful bacteria and odours, supporting their overall health and wellbeing.
Cleaning surfaces
Cleaning surfaces is a meticulous task that our Carers, or other professional housekeepers, undertake to ensure hygiene and cleanliness. Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces such as countertops, tables and doorknobs helps prevent the spread of germs and reduces the risk of infections. Vacuuming can also remove pet dander, which can lead to allergies and respiratory issues for older people.2
Laundry for the elderly
Laundry for the elderly is a crucial aspect of professional housekeeping services that goes beyond just cleaning clothes. Like a professional maid service, our Carers ensure that clients’ clothing and linens are washed, dried and put away with care. Again, this can reduce physical strain and also ensure you or your loved one have fresh and clean clothes to maintain dignity. Additionally, clean laundry promotes good hygiene practices, prevents skin irritation and enhances the overall sense of cleanliness in the home.
Grocery shopping for the elderly
Shopping assistance for the elderly is another aspect of our Domestic Care services. We’re committed to ensuring our clients have access to their preferred food items and essential supplies and doing the food shop is one way we can help with this.
Caring for pets
One of the key benefits of choosing Home Care or Live-in Care is that you or your loved one can keep a beloved pet. This isn’t usually possible when moving into a residential care facility where a dog or cat can’t be accommodated in a resident’s room. Of course, having a pet comes with responsibilities like feeding them, giving them exercise and taking them to a vet. Our Carers can help with these duties so you can spend quality time with your pet and know they are well looked after.
The impact of housekeeping on mental health
A clean and organised living environment can significantly impact mental health. Research shows that a tidy space can reduce stress, anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. A study has found that individuals with messy homes had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.3 There’s a lot of research showing that a clean home can make a real difference to mental health. At Alina Homecare, we believe in maintaining dignity and independence for all our clients – keeping their home safe, clean and comfortable is one of the best ways to achieve this.
How to arrange housekeeping
As with any form of Home Care, arranging housekeeping services for elderly people involves thoughtful planning and communication, but can be arranged quickly if needed. When you enquire with your local Alina Homecare Team, we’ll assess the specific needs of you or your loved one, including cleaning preferences, laundry requirements and grocery preferences. Communicating clearly at this point helps us to create a dedicated domestic care plan that covers all aspects of the housekeeping needed, including scheduling a cleaning visit and knowing which tasks to complete. Throughout this process, we ensure the plans remain flexible to accommodate changes over time.
Why choose a Home Care provider for housekeeping?
If you need thorough cleaning, a professional house cleaner may be the right option for you. However, for many elderly people, all that’s required is to keep on top of the daily tasks that come with living at home and light spring cleaning to keep things clean and tidy. In this case, Home Care can be a fantastic and affordable option that ensures housekeeping is taken care of. It can also be a more flexible service as a Carer can also provide other support during their visits. For instance, you or your loved one may need some help taking the bins out but also with getting washed and dressed for the day. You or your loved one may also need help using the bathroom, but also with washing clothes and bedding in the event of an accident caused by incontinence.
Whatever you need, however you need it, our Teams are ready to help. Home is where you should feel happy and comfortable. When household tasks build up over time, it can become overwhelming and stressful. Our housekeeping Care Workers have skills to provide quality Domestic Care that eases this burden. For people with a family caregiver, our Domestic Care services also mean that you can enjoy some family time or a well deserved break while a trained professional supports you with maintaining a healthier home.
6 housekeeping tips for elderly people
Keeping the home safe, clean and just the way you like it can be challenging as we age. For an elderly person’s loved ones, a busy schedule can make it challenging to provide the necessary support. We recommend seeking help from a professional where you can, but you can also apply some of these ideas to make life easier:
Prioritise safety Declutter regularly: Minimise tripping hazards by keeping floors clear of clutter. Remove unnecessary furniture and objects from walkways and hallways. This can be crucial for mitigating the risk of falls, which is particularly high for elderly people. Secure rugs & carpets: Use slip resistant pads to prevent rugs from slipping. Consider removing rugs altogether if they pose a significant fall risk. Install proper lighting: Ensure all areas of the home are well lit. Where possible, you can use night lights in hallways, staircases and bathrooms to navigate safely during the night.
Simplify cleaning tasks Use lightweight tools: Investing in lightweight, ergonomic cleaning tools can reduce strain. For instance, a lightweight vacuum cleaner or cordless sweeper can make cleaning less physically demanding. Of course, some elderly people will have mobility constraints that make the use of any appliances impossible. In these situations, seeking professional help may be the best option. Break tasks into smaller chunks: Instead of attempting a full house cleaning in one day, breaking tasks down into manageable steps can be helpful. Focusing on one area or room at a time can avoid fatigue. Similarly, staying on top of the small tasks can make cleaning easier, quicker and simpler in the longer term. Use cleaning aids: Consider using cleaning aids such as long handled dusters or grab tools to avoid bending or overreaching.
Organise effectively Create accessible storage: Arranging items in the home so that frequently used items are easily accessible and, if possible, positioned at waist height can avoid unnecessary bending or stretching. Routine sorting: A lifetime of great memories can lead to a lot of clutter building up and this can make cleaning more difficult. Periodically going through items to donate or discard what’s no longer needed can help with reducing clutter and create more space. This is something our Carers can help with.
Maximise energy efficiency Set a schedule: Keep energy levels in mind by scheduling housekeeping tasks during the time of day when you or your loved one feel most energetic and alert. Stay comfortable: Wear breathable, comfortable clothing and take regular breaks to rest and hydrate, especially during more demanding tasks.
Adapt & utilise technology Hire help if needed: Consider hiring professional housekeeping services if certain tasks become too strenuous or if you’re simply looking to lighten the load. The level and type of help you need will require on the nature and size of the tasks at hand; most people only need a little support to keep on today of daily tasks. If a Carer visits once a week to dust, vacuum and take out the bins, cleaning on the other days of the week can be more manageable. Use smart home devices: In today’s world, there are many smart home devices available like automated vacuums or apps for setting reminders. Using these can initially be challenging for elderly people but, with some help, they could make cleaning simpler, easier and quicker.
Stay social & seek support Gather a support network: Don’t hesitate to ask friends or family for help with specific tasks – many are more than willing to lend a hand!
Quick questions
How do I know if a private Carer is right for me?
It’s important to understand that Home Carers can’t help with all professional housekeeping tasks. Sometimes a trained and specialist cleaner is necessary if the work required is particularly challenging or hazardous. Our Care Assistants are primarily available to help with maintaining daily routines and making life easier in the comfort of home. They can help maintain a clean space with light and regular cleaning as opposed to when a home is in an advanced state of disrepair.
What does professional housekeeping involve? Can Carers do housework?
Professional housekeeping is a broad umbrella term that can include many different types of services. These can be cleaning, laundry, vacuuming and meal preparation among others. Caregivers do housework as part of their job but specialist services like sanitisation using expert cleaning products are part of a professional housekeeping service rather than regular Home Care packages. If you or your loved one need a little support with chores around the home, hiring a Care Assistant might be a great start to see if it helps keep on top of various tasks.
Will my housekeeper live with me?
This depends on the level of care you require. You could hire a Live-in Carer as a housekeeper, which means they would live with you in your home, providing all kinds of support and helping keep your home safe and tidy. They would do your shopping and can even stay awake during the night if you need overnight support. Alternatively, you can hire a visiting Home Care Assistant who visits at agreed times to complete agreed tasks. Live-in Care is charged at a weekly rate, whereas Home Care is charged at an hourly rate. Both options remain flexible and it’s ultimately about what works best for you.
How do I arrange domestic help?
You can look for domestic help in a few ways. You can use agencies, check online, look in local directories, or ask people you know. Think about what you need and consider your budget. Decide if you want someone full time, part time, weekly cleanings or just every now and then. If you’re not sure what level of support you or your loved one need, find your local Alina Homecare Team and find out more about how we can help.
What’s the difference between a housekeeper and a Live-in Carer?
A housekeeper usually takes care of household tasks exclusively, such as cleaning and maintaining the house and possibly making meals. A Live-in Carer, on the other hand, helps people who need round the clock support with daily activities and offers a much wider and broader range of ongoing help. This includes household tasks but can involve other things like washing, hoisting or staying awake through the night to offer support. Their main job is to provide Personal Care and assistance and to make life easier by enabling you or your loved one to stay home for longer.
What are the duties of a Housekeeper?
Housekeeping duties usually involve cleaning, laundry, ironing and tidying. The exact tasks might change based on what the person needs and how experienced the housekeeper is. Find your local Alina Homecare Team and we’ll talk through your needs and design a bespoke care plan that will outline all the tasks, duties and responsibilities you’d like your Carer to help you with around the home.
What’s the difference between a housekeeper and a cleaner?
A cleaner usually does cleaning jobs exclusively. A housekeeper, on the other hand, offers more services. What these services are will vary according to who you hire and what requirements you have. A Home Carer has an even broader range of responsibilities, as they can help you personally and not just with housework. This could involve companionship or specialist support if you or your loved one have a chronic condition.
Why is being a CQC regulated company important?
Being regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is a requirement for any Home Care provider in the UK. It can also be a great way of ensuring that housekeeping services meet the highest standards of quality and safety. CQC regulation provides assurance to our clients that they’re in good hands. We operate in compliance with strict guidelines and regulations set by the Health & Social Care sector. This helps us maintain transparency, accountability and professionalism in all aspects of our services, ultimately leading to better outcomes for our clients.
