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Hiring a Full-Time Domestic Helper or Part-time Cleaner or Caregiver: Factors to Consider

by homekeeper | Feb 9, 2023 | Resources, Announcements

Are you considering hiring a part-time or full time domestic helper but not sure where to start? It can be overwhelming to figure out what kind of help you need and what kind of person is the best fit for your family. Before making a decision, there are several factors to consider when hiring a part-time cleaner or a full time maid. This article will discuss these factors, so you know what to think about before making a decision.

Benefits of Hiring a Part-Time Cleaner or Caregiver

Flexibility is one of the most significant benefits of hiring a part-time cleaner or caregiver. Part-timers are usually available for short blocks, allowing you to fit them into your schedule easily. This is great for busy families who need assistance but do not have the time or energy to commit to a full time arrangement. Additionally, part-time cleaners and caregivers are usually more affordable than a full time helper, meaning you can save money without compromising the quality of care.

Benefits of Hiring A Full Time Helper

A full time helper can provide more consistent and reliable care than a part-time caregiver. Having a full time helper allows you to maintain a regular schedule, which can be beneficial for families with children or elderly family members who need regular care. Additionally, you can build a strong relationship with your full time maid, making them part of the family.

Factors to Consider When Hiring a Full Time Domestic Helper or Part-time Cleaner or Caregiver

When hiring a part-time cleaner or caregiver or full time domestic helper, there are several things to consider:

1. Type of Help Needed

The first factor to consider is the type of help you need. Part-time cleaners or caregivers may be available for a few hours per week. However, full time domestic helpers will live in the same residence as employer where the tasks are up to the employer to assign. A part-time cleaner or caregiver might be the best option if you only require part-time assistance for a few hours per week. Consider hiring a full-time domestic helper if you need more 24/7 help with your home, such as laundry, grocery shopping, eldercare or childcare.

2. Budget

Budget is essential when hiring a part-time cleaner or caregiver or full time domestic helper. Depending on the type of help you need, part-time cleaners or caregivers might be more affordable than a full time domestic helper. Part-time services might cost around $25 – $100/hour, while for hiring full-time services, the estimated cost is $1,000 to $3,000. There are other expenses such as helper’s salary, levy, living and medical expenses.

3. Experience

Look for individuals who have worked in similar positions, as they will likely better understand the responsibilities and duties involved. If the job requires caregiving skills, look for individuals who have worked in the caregiving industry and have a compassionate and patient demeanor.

4. Hiring Process

Hiring a full time helper takes longer which is about 4 – 10 weeks due to paperwork and application. The hiring of part-time helpers is faster as it can be arranged anytime as long as cleaners or caregivers are available.

5. Skills

It’s essential to consider the specific skills required for the position. For a domestic helper, cleaning, organizing, and household management skills are crucial. Communication, interpersonal, and emotional intelligence skills are essential for a caregiver. For a part-time cleaner, attention to detail, time management, and physical dexterity are crucial skills to consider.

We Are Partnering with Nayaka Services for Part-time Cleaning and Caregiving Services!

It is essential to consider the abovementioned factors when hiring either a full time domestic helper or part-time cleaner or caregiver to get the best help for your home. It’s also important to conduct background checks and verify references to ensure the individual is trustworthy and reliable.

If you are looking for part-time cleaning or caregiving services and feel that benefit your schedule, we are partnering with Nayaka to provide such services. Do not hesitate to contact Nayaka at 8405 7622 (WhatsApp) or book the services now.

You may also contact Homekeeper if you need a full time maid to look after your loved ones. We are a reliable maid agency in Singapore that provides training for maids to take care of infants and elderly care. Reach us at 8515 5527 or contactus@homekeeper.sg.

Mandatory Rest Day for Migrant Domestic Workers

by homekeeper | Jan 11, 2023 | Announcements

To allow MDWs to rest and recharge from work, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced that all employers must provide their Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) at least one rest day a month that cannot be compensated away from 1 January 2023. It will apply to all new and existing MDWs in Singapore.

MDWs and employers should come to a mutual agreement on the rest day arrangements. MOM has developed a guide that can help employers and MDWs discuss and agree on how the mandatory rest day will be taken. Employers must also update their MDW’s rest day information via the MDW eServices portal.

For more information and latest updates, please visit MOM website.

How to Prepare for Your Newborn’s Arrival: 5 Tips

by homekeeper | Jul 13, 2022 | Tips & Guides

Whether you’ve hired help from a reliable maid agency for infant care in Singapore or not, there are many things that you still need to prepare before the arrival of your newborn. Particularly if you will have a lack of time and energy once you give birth, making sure you’re well prepared in these five areas in advance can certainly relieve you of needless stress.

1. Stock up on baby basics

There are a few essential daily items that you must stock up on even if you’ll have an infant care maid from a Singapore agency to take care of your newborn. For starters, baby towels, handkerchiefs, wash basins and baby toiletries are must-haves to upkeep the baby’s everyday cleanliness. Nappy wipes, nappy rash cream and nappies are also important since infants are too young to be toilet trained.

Depending on your preference, choose between cloth diapers that are washable and cheaper over the long term or disposable diapers that provide more convenience but are not so environmentally friendly. If you choose the latter, note that they come in a variety of sizes and you must buy those suitable for newborns until your little one grows up.

2. Prepare your baby’s room & supplies

There is also equipment and furniture such as a baby cot, chest of drawers, stroller, night light and car seat that require a bit more planning and price comparisons. Especially for the baby cot, get one that is sturdy and smooth so that fingers or clothing would not get caught. The mattress size should also fit perfectly to the cot to prevent the baby from getting tangled in the excess material.

Make sure to thoroughly clean or wash any items that your infant will get in contact with. Wash all the new baby clothes and beddings in advance and wipe down all the furniture and equipment with non-bio washing products to make them extra safe for infant use.

3. Pack your hospital bags

You won’t know when your baby is going to arrive, as such, you should get your hospital bag packed as early as the 37-week. Include in the bag a full set of toiletries, toothbrush, toothpaste, a few sets of clothes and underwear and not forgetting a cardigan to keep you warm. Also, prepare a set of nursing gowns that open in front to facilitate breastfeeding and an outfit that you can wear while going home.

Don’t forget the Letter of Admission to the hospital and documents for birth registration. Some hospitals have a birth registration centre where you can complete the birth registration on the spot. If you’re not sure what to pack, check with your infant care maid whom you’re hiring from the Singapore agency. Your helper will have valuable information to share with you.

4. Prepare your child for a new sibling

If you already have children, you have to find ways to prepare them for the arrival of their new sibling. There are a variety of ways to do this and how well they work largely depends on their age. One common method used by many parents is to read books about new babies or siblings to prepare them for the new arrival. Some parents also let their children select a special gift for the newborn or pick out decorations for the baby’s room to help them ease into the idea of having a new sibling.

5. Get an extra pair of hands

There is no shame in asking for an extra pair of hands to help with chores when your newborn arrives. The entire process can be overwhelming and when you have a helper or a confinement nanny to take care of tedious and unexpected matters during the first month, you can more easily transit into parenthood and enjoy precious moments with your little one with fewer glitches.

Don’t let the stress of preparing for the arrival of your newborn get the better of you. Reach out to us at Homekeeper Maid Agency by calling (65) 64685220, WhatsApp (65) 8515 5527, or email at contactus@homekeeper.sg for more details for an infant care helper who can give you peace of mind.

Preparing for Your Domestic Helper’s Arrival: 5 Tips

by homekeeper | Jul 13, 2022 | Tips & Guides

Just like how you’ll welcome a new employee with onboarding programmes, you should do the same for your new domestic helper to ensure she will ease into the job more seamlessly. If you’ve recently hired a domestic helper and she is about to start work, here are five things you should do to help her integrate smoothly into your home.

1. Sort out living arrangements

Allocate a comfortable space where your domestic helper who newly arrived in Singapore can feel at ease in. When she has a comfortable room, she’ll not only feel welcome but also be encouraged to work more diligently. Make sure to clean up the room thoroughly so that she doesn’t have to clean her own room as her first task. You may even want to make the room more delightful to live in with proper furniture, colourful bedsheets and curtains that offer maximum privacy.

2. Define expectations & priorities

Take some time to convey your requirements even if you assume your helper’s agency may have done a round of briefing. When you can clearly define your expectations and priorities, your helper will be more aware of where her commitment should be placed.

Start by explaining her key duties and schedule, including wake-up time, meal times and rest days. Then go on to explain her wage, allowances and any banking-related matters that she should take note of. Importantly, both of you must come to an agreement regarding mobile phone usage. You should address issues such as whether you will provide your domestic helper with a mobile phone in Singapore, when she can use her phone during the work day and whether she can tap on the home Wi-Fi.

3. Prepare a handbook of helpful information

Because your domestic helper is new to Singapore and how your family operates, you should create a handbook with useful information to help her integrate into her surroundings more seamlessly. Include in the handbook all relevant information such as key contact numbers of relevant authorities, family members and people that she may need to communicate with for daily work matters.

On top of these contacts, weave in details like travel instructions, medication requirements for the family and addresses of locations that your helper may need to visit during her employment. For example, addresses of your children’s school and your parent’s and in-law’s home should be included since your helper may have to travel to and fro these places regularly.

4. Consider privacy & boundaries

Because your helper will be living with you and become a part of your household, it can be somewhat uncomfortable if you don’t set boundaries. While your helper’s agency in Singapore might have explained basic guidelines on how to live harmoniously together under one roof, you’ll still have to reiterate the boundaries based on the real scenario to protect both parties. This can point to defining what she should or should not do, what she can or cannot touch and to what extent she can exercise her own discretion. For example, be clear about whether she can discipline your children if they misbehaviour and what kind of disciplinary action she can take. The more you can define the boundaries, the better chances for both of you to live together with less conflict and misunderstandings.

5. Keep an open mind

It is possible that despite the explanation, she may still not perform tasks the way you want it. But if you can exercise tolerance and continue to give your feedback respectfully, surely the goodwill will encourage her to succeed eventually. People usually learn from positive reinforcement – if you show gratitude for the good work she’s done, it is bound to bridge the relationship between both of you too.

Having a domestic helper can be a saving grace in so many ways. If you’re bogged down by too many household chores, don’t hesitate to contact us at Homekeeper Maid Agency by calling (65) 64685220, WhatsApp (65) 8515 5527, or email at contactus@homekeeper.sg for more details. Our domestic helpers in Singapore are trained to provide infant care, elderly care and housekeeping so that you’ll always have peace of mind.

Caring for Someone With Alzheimer’s: 5 Tips

by homekeeper | Jun 23, 2022 | Tips & Guides

Over 55 million people around the world suffered from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in 2020, and these numbers are estimated to double every 20 years. What exactly is Alzheimer’s disease? Simply put, it’s a type of brain disorder that slowly destroys cognitive skills and eventually impedes a person’s ability to carry out the simplest daily tasks. Unfortunately, it is a condition that can happen to anyone and even rattle the lives of their caregivers. Whether you’re reading this blog because you’re on the arduous journey of providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or have hired help from a maid agency in Singapore to assist you, here are five tips that may be helpful.

1. Read up on Alzheimer’s disease

The first step is to learn about Alzheimer’s symptoms, treatments and challenges that both the patient and caregiver may face. If you’re equipped with knowledge of what Alzheimer’s disease is and how many stages of Alzheimer’s there are, you’ll understand that there is extensive knowledge you need to acquire before you can administer the best care. The APOE mutation in Alzheimer’s patients can affect them differently at different stages. When you are fully aware of how the disease works, you’ll then administer the right treatment and exercise more patience in caregiving.

2. Set a routine

Whether you’re providing care to an Alzheimer’s patient personally or engaging a maid agency in Singapore to get a qualified helper, it is good to establish a constant daily routine. This can help the patient who is already experiencing cognitive deterioration to reinforce a sense of familiarity and to avoid confusion that may arise from random changes to their routine. Keeping a regular schedule can make it easier for the patient to keep track of daily to-do items like showers, taking medicines, nap time or exercise. As a caregiver, be prepared to take more time than usual because of the patient’s mental condition.

3. Keep them engaged

Those with Alzheimer’s disease are plagued with memory loss and cognitive difficulties that cause them difficulties like getting lost, trouble handling money and inability to do daily chores. However, no matter how many stages of Alzheimer’s the patient has gone through, it is still imperative to keep them engaged with activities and establish regular communication. Instead of putting a halt on all events as a form of protection, let them engage in activities like exercising and doing household chores. Providing aids like visual cues, simple instructions, and sensor devices will be helpful in guiding them along.

4. Create a safe environment

While it is important to keep Alzheimer’s patients engaged, cautionary measures must also be in place to keep them from harm and help them feel safe. In the past, they may be well aware of avoiding hazardous zones. However, with declining cognitive ability, they may just walk past a “Danger Ahead” signage without understanding what it means. As such, equipping them with the right tools and a safe environment is a must. For example, using tape with prominent colours on the edge of steps, padding sharp corners on furniture or switching to an induction cooktop can help to reduce the risk of injuries.

If you are a Singapore citizen who requires long-term care for a child below 16 or an elderly 67 years old and above with disabilities or medical conditions, you may be eligible for an FWD Concessionary Levy Scheme.

Not sure how to apply? Reach out to Homekeeper Maid Agency in Singapore by calling (65) 64685220, WhatsApp (65) 8515 5527, or email at contactus@homekeeper.sg for more details. Homekeeper is one of the participating employment agencies and will be able to assist you in recruiting the ideal helper. If you’re looking for a maid for elderly care, we offer pre-employment training specific to both elderly and disability care. We can help to recruit maids from different approved countries including Filipino maids and Indonesian helpers.

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