What are Homemaker Services?

Homemaker services include essential household tasks such as light cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and running errands.

These services do not include hands-on personal care such as bathing or dressing. 

This distinction is important, as homemaker services are often the first step when a parent can manage personal needs but requires help maintaining the home.

What homemaker services actually include

While specific tasks may vary by family, the core services typically include:

• Light housekeeping: vacuuming, mopping, wiping down the kitchen and bathroom
• Laundry: washing, drying, folding, putting away
• Meal preparation: planning and preparing meals according to dietary needs or preferences
• Grocery shopping and errands: purchasing groceries, picking up prescriptions, and other routine tasks
• Light organizing: maintaining clear and functional common areas

Homemaker services do not include hands-on assistance with the individual, such as bathing, dressing, or medication management.

These tasks fall under personal care, which is a separate service. Homemaker services focus on maintaining a safe and functional environment, allowing the individual to focus on other aspects of daily life.

For example, a caregiver may visit three mornings a week to do laundry, clean the bathroom, prepare lunch, and pick up items from the pharmacy. These tasks are non-medical and do not involve hands-on care, but they help keep the home manageable.

Who uses it, and when

Many families learn about homemaker services through a social worker or discharge planner. Often, the parent is managing at home but certain tasks, such as laundry, meal preparation, or cleaning, are becoming difficult to maintain.

This is when homemaker services are most beneficial. The focus is on supporting tasks that are becoming more challenging, helping to prevent further decline. If you recognize these signs, homemaker services may be an appropriate starting point.

Homemaker services are also common in these situations:

• After a hospital stay, when someone is home but not back to full. When a family caregiver is managing responsibilities but becoming overwhelmed out of bandwidth
• When a parent lives alone, and household upkeep has quietly become too much
• When the family prefers to begin with minimal support before considering more intensive care

How it differs from personal care

Many families have this question after first hearing the term, often from a social worker or discharge planner.

Homemaker services address household needs, while personal care focuses on the individual.

Many families begin with homemaker services and add personal care as needs evolve. Both services can be provided simultaneously; there is no requirement to choose only one.

What to expect when services start

A care coordinator will discuss your specific needs before services begin. The process is as follows:

• Intake call: identify required tasks, preferred schedule, and any caregiver preferences
• Matching: assign a caregiver based on your home and schedule
• First visit: familiarize the caregiver with the home, daily routines, and priorities of the individual
• Ongoing check-ins: adjust the schedule and tasks as needs change

Is homemaker services the right fit?

Homemaker services are often a good starting point if any of the following apply:

• A social worker or discharge planner recommended looking into home care
• The household has become difficult to maintain, but your parent is otherwise managing well
• You are spending your weekends doing chores at your parents' house
• You spend weekends completing household chores for your parent to try something before committing to more intensive care

If assistance is needed beyond household tasks, such as bathing or dressing, personal care may be appropriate. Both services can begin together or separately, depending on your needs.

See what is available in Kansas City

Not sure where to start? That is exactly what we are here for. Call or reach out to AbriCare and we will walk you through it, no commitment needed.

Just a plain conversation about what your parents need and whether homemaker services in Kansas City is the right first step. 

FAQ

What does a homemaker do in home care?

A homemaker helps maintain the household by providing light cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and errands. They do not provide hands-on assistance with bathing, dressing, or personal hygiene. These tasks are part of personal care, which can be added as needed.

What is the difference between homemaker services and personal care?

Homemaker services address household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, cooking, and errands. Personal care involves hands-on assistance with the individual, including bathing, dressing, grooming, and mobility. Many families begin with homemaker services and add personal care as needs increase; both can be provided simultaneously.

Is homemaker services covered by Medicaid or insurance?

In some cases, homemaker services are covered. In Missouri, MO HealthNet may cover these services for eligible individuals as part of its home and community-based programs. Coverage through private or long-term care insurance varies by plan. Here is how Missouri Medicaid covers home care.

How much do homemaker services cost?

Costs depend on the number of hours required each week and the provider. This resource outlines typical home care costs in the Kansas City area, including potential Medicaid and insurance coverage.

Can homemaker services be combined with personal care?

Yes. Many families begin with homemaker services and add personal care as needs change. Both services can be provided together from the outset if needed. A care coordinator can help determine the best combination.

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