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Is Vacuuming Within the Duties of Home Care Workers?
Date Updated: December 9, 2024
Written by:
Lauren Thomas is a seasoned writer that specializes in long-term care, with a special focus on dementia-related topics. She holds a degree in counseling and uses her knowledge and experience to create insightful content that gives seniors and families the information they need to make important care decisions.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
Yes, vacuuming falls within the duties of home care workers, mainly if included in the care plan. If you’re one of the many seniors who want to remain home for as long as possible, relying on home care workers for tasks that become challenging with advanced age can help you age in place safely and comfortably.
What Does Home Care Include?
Home care agencies provide nonmedical support services and assistance for seniors who need help with daily activities due to advanced age, an injury or illness. This solution features two types of care, including companion care and personal care. Companion care features company and conversation for seniors at risk of loneliness. Personal care encompasses hands-on support with daily activities such as dressing, bathing and grooming.
For many seniors, household tasks become challenging due to age or the layout of their homes. Fortunately, home care agencies provide help with basic household chores. Home care workers can assist with light housekeeping tasks, including vacuuming, dusting, sweeping and mopping in specific areas of the home, such as a living room or bedroom. However, vacuuming the entire house and deep cleaning, such as shampooing carpets, falls outside the scope of light housekeeping. For these tasks, you may consider hiring a professional cleaning service.
Can Home Care Workers Vacuum My Floors?
Depending on the individual’s needs, vacuuming falls within the scope of services home care agencies provide. Additionally, you can arrange cleaning services such as dusting, disinfecting surfaces and washing and folding clothes. This support can help you maintain a sanitary environment and avoid fall risks from clutter.
Home care agencies provide a variety of cleaning services to address different needs. In some cases, individuals schedule cleaning services every week or every other week, keeping their homes consistently fresh. In other instances, customized cleaning schedules allow you to arrange cleaning services as necessary. During your initial consultation with a home care agency, you can discuss your preferences for cleaning services.
Do Home Care Workers Provide Their Own Cleaning Supplies?
While home care workers can help you maintain a sanitary environment in your home, they don’t travel with cleaning supplies. If you plan to have a caregiver take on tasks such as vacuuming, dusting or disinfecting, be sure to have your preferred products and tools on hand at each visit, ensuring you receive the services you expect.