Haushaltshilfen und Unterstützung organisieren

Kirsten Isler (KI) by Kirsten Isler (KI)
01.01.2025
Haushaltshilfen und Unterstützung organisieren

Why household help is important

As grandparents, you want to be there for your grandchildren, spend time with them, and create beautiful memories. But sometimes everyday life with household chores, gardening, and other tasks can take up so much time that there is little room for what really matters: the shared hours with your grandchildren. By properly organizing household help and support, you can create more time and energy for what really counts.

When you organize support in the household, you are doing this not only for yourself, but especially for your grandchildren. Your grandchildren benefit when you are relaxed and rested, when you have time for shared activities, and when you are not overwhelmed by everyday tasks. Well-organized support enables you to fully enjoy the valuable years with your grandchildren and give them the attention they deserve.

Many grandparents hesitate to organize help because they think they have to manage everything alone or that help is too expensive. But when you consider how valuable the time with your grandchildren is and how important it is to stay healthy and fit to be there for your grandchildren for a long time, it becomes clear that investing in support is an investment in your shared future.

More time for grandchildren

When you organize support in the household, you gain valuable time that you can spend with your grandchildren. Instead of spending hours cleaning or working in the garden, you can play, craft, read stories, or go on outings together with your grandchildren. These shared moments are irreplaceable and shape your relationship with your grandchildren in a lasting way.

Your grandchildren will remember how you spent time with them, not how clean the house was. When you organize support, you create space for these special moments. Your grandchildren will sense when you are relaxed and present, instead of stressed and overwhelmed. This quality of shared time is the most valuable thing you can give your grandchildren.

By properly organizing household help, you can also be more spontaneous and respond more flexibly to your grandchildren's needs. When your grandchildren want to visit you or when there is a special occasion, you can use the time without worrying about pending household chores. This flexibility enables you to shape your relationship with your grandchildren even more intensively.

Maintaining health and well-being

When you organize support, you are also doing something for your health and well-being. Heavy housework or strenuous gardening can be physically demanding, especially as you get older. Through proper support, you can conserve your strength and stay fit longer to be actively with your grandchildren for many more years.

Your grandchildren need you healthy and fit. If you overexert yourself, you risk injuries or exhaustion that could prevent you from spending time with your grandchildren. By organizing support, you invest in your long-term health and thus in the possibility of being there for your grandchildren for a long time and creating beautiful shared experiences.

Psychologically, relief through household help can also be very valuable. When you have less stress from household chores, you can be more relaxed and balanced. This balance also transfers to your grandchildren and creates a positive, relaxed atmosphere in which your grandchildren feel comfortable and enjoy spending time with you.

Types of household help and support

There are various types of household help and support that you can use as grandparents. Depending on your individual needs and possibilities, you can combine different forms of support or specifically cover certain areas. It is important that you find the support that suits you and enables you to have more time for your grandchildren.

Think about which tasks take up the most time or cost the most energy. These tasks should be delegated to support first. If you have difficulties with heavy cleaning work, for example, a household helper can take over exactly these tasks, while you focus on the things that bring you joy and enable time with your grandchildren.

The different types of support can also be combined. Perhaps you have a household helper for regular cleaning work, a garden helper for garden maintenance, and support from family members for larger tasks. This combination enables you to be comprehensively supported without having to rely on a single solution.

Household help

Household helpers can support you with various tasks in the household: cleaning, laundry, ironing, shopping, or cooking. Depending on your needs, you can engage a household helper for regular tasks or for special occasions, for example when you are expecting a visit from your grandchildren and want to make the house especially nice.

When you organize a household helper, you not only create time for your grandchildren, but also the possibility to keep the house in a condition that allows you to receive visitors spontaneously. When your grandchildren want to visit you unexpectedly, you can look forward to it without worrying about whether the house is tidy. This flexibility is particularly valuable for the spontaneous moments with your grandchildren.

A household helper can also help with larger cleaning actions that you might no longer be able to manage alone. If you want to do a thorough cleaning before a visit from your grandchildren, for example, a household helper can support you, so you can focus on preparing the beautiful moments with your grandchildren.

Care assistance

Care assistants can support you with personal tasks that can become more difficult with increasing age. These include help with dressing, personal care, or medical tasks. When you receive support in these areas, you can maintain your independence longer and at the same time ensure that you have the energy to be actively with your grandchildren.

Your grandchildren benefit when you stay healthy and independent. Through support from care assistants, you can better maintain your health and stay active longer. This enables you to be there for your grandchildren for many more years and create beautiful shared experiences, without your grandchildren having to worry about your health.

Care assistants can also help with medication intake or health routines that are important to keep you fit. When you have these tasks professionally supported, you can ensure that you do everything correctly and at the same time have time and energy for the important things: time with your grandchildren.

Garden help

Gardening can be very time-consuming and physically demanding. When you organize garden help, you can keep your garden maintained without having to work for hours yourself. This gives you more time to enjoy the garden together with your grandchildren, instead of just maintaining it.

A well-maintained garden is a wonderful place to spend time with your grandchildren. When you organize support for garden maintenance, you can use the garden as a place of relaxation and shared experience, instead of a place of work. Your grandchildren will love spending time with you in the garden when you are relaxed and can enjoy the garden together.

Garden helpers can also help with larger projects, such as creating a vegetable bed or maintaining trees. When you carry out such projects with support, you can experience them together with your grandchildren without overexerting yourself. Your grandchildren can learn and help, while you don't have to manage the work alone.

Finding and organizing household help

There are various ways to find household help and support. Depending on your needs, your budget, and your preferences, you can use different contact points. It is important that you take time to find the right support that suits you and enables you to have more time for your grandchildren.

When you organize support, you invest in your shared future with your grandchildren. The time you gain through proper support can be used to create beautiful experiences with your grandchildren that you will all remember for a lifetime. This investment is worth it because it enables you to fully enjoy the valuable years with your grandchildren.

Don't hesitate to try different options and contact different providers. Everyone has different needs, and it may take some time until you find the right support. But the effort is worth it when you have more time and energy for your grandchildren as a result.

Contact points and placement services

There are various contact points that can help you find household helpers. Care services, social stations, or specialized placement agencies can support you in finding the right support. These places know the various options and can help you find the right solution.

Many municipalities also offer counseling centers that can help you organize support. These places can inform you about various funding opportunities and help you find the right support for your individual needs. Use these offers to inform yourself comprehensively and find the best solution for yourself and your grandchildren.

Health insurance or care insurance can also be contacts when it comes to support related to your health. When you need support that maintains your health and enables you to stay fit longer, these places can help you find the right support and possibly also support you with financing.

Private arrangements

In addition to professional providers, you can also search privately for household helpers. Perhaps you know someone in your neighborhood or in your circle of acquaintances who would like to help. Private arrangements can often be more flexible and personal, which is more pleasant for many grandparents.

When you search privately for support, you should still make clear agreements and ensure that both sides know what is expected. Even with private arrangements, it is important that you feel comfortable and that the support is reliable, so you can rely on it when you want to spend time with your grandchildren.

Private household helpers can also be a good option if you only need occasional support, for example before a visit from your grandchildren or for larger cleaning actions. This flexibility can be particularly valuable if you don't need regular support, but only on certain occasions.

Costs and financing

The costs for household helpers vary depending on the type of support, scope of tasks, and region. When you organize support, you should inform yourself about the various costs and consider which support you can afford. Remember that you are investing in your shared future with your grandchildren when you organize support.

There are various ways to finance the costs for household helpers. In some cases, you can receive support from care insurance if the help is related to your health. Tax benefits or other funding opportunities can also help reduce costs. Inform yourself about the various options to find the best solution for yourself.

When you consider the costs for household helpers, also think about the value that the time gained has for you and your grandchildren. The time you can spend with your grandchildren is priceless. When you organize support, you invest in this valuable time and create space for beautiful shared experiences that you will all remember for a lifetime.

Support from family and neighborhood

In addition to professional support, family members and neighbors can also play an important role in organizing household help. When you organize support through your family or neighborhood, you not only create practical help, but also the possibility to strengthen relationships and build a network of support from which your grandchildren also benefit.

Your grandchildren learn how important it is to be there for each other and how community works. When they see how you organize support and how others help you, they learn important values such as helpfulness, community, and mutual support. These lessons will accompany them throughout their lives and help them become helpful and supportive people themselves.

Support from family and neighborhood can also be a good option if you only need occasional help or if you have certain tasks where family or neighbors can help you. This form of support can be particularly valuable because it is personal and because it shows that you are part of a community that is there for each other.

Involving family members

Your own children or other family members can be an important source of support. When you involve your family, you can think together about how you can organize support and who can take on which tasks. This joint planning also strengthens the relationships within the family and shows your grandchildren how important family and mutual support are.

When you involve your family, you should speak openly about your needs and clearly communicate what support you need. Your family wants to help you, and when you clearly say what you need, they can better support you. At the same time, you should also respect your family's boundaries and understand that not everyone can always help.

Involving your family can also be a good way to involve your grandchildren. Perhaps your grandchildren can help with smaller tasks, such as tidying up or gardening. These shared activities not only create practical help, but also valuable shared time and the opportunity to teach your grandchildren important values.

Organizing neighborhood help

Your neighborhood can also be an important source of support. Perhaps there are people in your neighborhood who would like to help, or there are already neighborhood help projects you can participate in. Organizing neighborhood help not only creates practical support, but also a sense of community and cohesion.

When you organize neighborhood help, you can also be a role model for your grandchildren. Your grandchildren see how important community is and how people can be there for each other. These lessons will accompany them throughout their lives and help them become active members of their community who are there for others.

Neighborhood help can also be a good option if you only need occasional support or if you have certain tasks where neighbors can help you. Perhaps you can also help others yourself and thus build a network of mutual support from which everyone benefits, including your grandchildren, who see how important community and helpfulness are.

Practical organization and planning

Good organization and planning are important so that support through household helpers works smoothly and you actually gain time for your grandchildren. When you organize support, you should take time to think about which tasks you want to delegate, how often you need support, and how you want to shape the cooperation.

When you are well organized, you can optimally use the support and ensure that you actually gain time for your grandchildren. Clear planning also helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures that both sides know what is expected. This clarity enables you to be relaxed and focus on the important things: time with your grandchildren.

Organizing support should not be complicated. With good planning and clear agreements, you can organize the support so that it helps you have more time for your grandchildren without feeling additionally burdened. This relief is exactly the goal: more space for what really counts.

Creating a task list

Before you organize support, you should create a list of tasks you want to delegate. Think about which tasks take up the most time or cost the most energy, and prioritize these. These tasks should be delegated to support first, so you immediately gain more time for your grandchildren.

Your task list should be realistic and contain the tasks you can and want to actually delegate. Not all tasks have to be delegated – perhaps there are also tasks that bring you joy and that you like to do yourself. Focus on the tasks that take up time that you could spend with your grandchildren.

When you create your task list, also think about which tasks are important for your grandchildren. Perhaps there are tasks you can do together with your grandchildren, such as cooking or baking. These tasks you might want to keep, while you delegate other tasks that enable less time with your grandchildren.

Time planning and routines

Good time planning helps to optimally use the support and ensure that you actually gain time for your grandchildren. Think about when you need support and how often. Perhaps you need regular support, for example weekly, or only occasional support on certain occasions.

When you create your time planning, also think about the times you want to spend with your grandchildren. Plan the support so that it enables you to fully enjoy these times without worrying about pending tasks. This planning helps you to be relaxed and focus on the important moments with your grandchildren.

Routines can also help make cooperation with household helpers easier. When you have regular appointments, both sides can adjust to them and the cooperation becomes smoother. These routines also give you security and enable you to better plan when you have time for your grandchildren.

Communication and clarifying expectations

Good communication is important so that cooperation with household helpers works smoothly and you actually gain time for your grandchildren. When you clearly communicate what you expect and what you need, misunderstandings can be avoided and both sides know where they stand. This clarity enables you to be relaxed and focus on the important things.

When you clearly communicate your expectations, you also show your grandchildren how important good communication is. Your grandchildren learn how to communicate respectfully, how to clearly express expectations, and how to work together constructively. These lessons will accompany them throughout their lives and help them become good communicators themselves.

Communication should not only take place at the beginning, but continuously. When something changes or when you have other needs, you should communicate this. This open communication helps to adjust the cooperation and ensure that the support always fits your needs, so you continue to have time for your grandchildren.

Making clear agreements

Before you start with the support, you should make clear agreements about the tasks to be done, the times when the support takes place, and the way the cooperation should be shaped. These agreements help avoid misunderstandings and ensure that both sides know what is expected.

When you make clear agreements, you can also ensure that the support provides exactly what you need to have more time for your grandchildren. This clarity enables you to be relaxed and rely on the tasks being done while you focus on the important moments with your grandchildren.

Your agreements should also be flexible and leave room for adjustments. When your needs change or when new situations arise, you should be able to adjust the agreements. This flexibility is important so that the support always fits your needs and enables you to optimally have time for your grandchildren.

Giving and receiving feedback

Feedback is important so that cooperation works well and support can be optimally used. When you give constructive feedback, you can ensure that the support provides exactly what you need. At the same time, you should also be open to feedback and willing to make adjustments when necessary.

When you give feedback, you should be respectful and constructive. Show what works well and give hints about what could be improved. This type of communication helps improve cooperation and ensure that the support is always optimal, so you continue to have time for your grandchildren.

Your grandchildren also learn how important feedback is and how to communicate constructively. When they see how you respectfully give and receive feedback, they learn important communication skills that will accompany them throughout their lives. These lessons help them become good communicators themselves and work constructively with others.

Long-term planning

When you organize support, you should also think long-term. Think about how your needs might change and how you want to shape the support long-term. This long-term planning helps you ensure that you will have time for your grandchildren in the future and that the support fits your needs.

Your grandchildren will grow older, and your needs may change. When you plan long-term, you can ensure that the support always fits your needs and that you continue to have time for your grandchildren, even when circumstances change. This planning is an investment in your shared future with your grandchildren.

Long-term planning also means that you remain flexible and are willing to make adjustments when your needs change. Perhaps you will need more or less support in the future, or perhaps the tasks you want to delegate will change. This flexibility enables you to optimally use the support and continue to have time for your grandchildren.

Overview of types of household help

Type
Tasks
Frequency
Household helper
Cleaning, laundry, ironing
Weekly or as needed
Care assistant
Personal care, medication
Daily or several times a week
Garden helper
Mowing lawn, weeding
Seasonal or monthly
Shopping help
Grocery shopping
Weekly or as needed

Cost overview for household helpers

Type
Cost per hour
Notes
Household helper
15-25 euros
Varies by region and tasks
Care assistant
20-30 euros
Often subsidized by care insurance
Garden helper
15-20 euros
Seasonally different
Shopping help
10-15 euros
Often possible as combination

Contact points for household helpers

Point
Task
Contact
Care service
Placement of care assistants
Local or online
Social station
Counseling and placement
Municipal contact point
Placement agency
Placement of various help
Private agencies
Neighborhood help
Local support
Municipal projects

Tips for organizing household helpers

  • Create a list of tasks you want to delegate
  • Prioritize tasks by time required and burden
  • Inform yourself about various contact points and offers
  • Make clear agreements about tasks, times, and expectations
  • Plan support so that you gain time for your grandchildren
  • Stay flexible and adjust support to your needs

Benefits of household helpers for grandparents

  • More time for shared activities with grandchildren
  • Less stress and overload in everyday life
  • Better health through relief from physical tasks
  • More flexibility for spontaneous visits from grandchildren
  • Relaxed atmosphere for shared time
  • Long-term investment in shared future

Checklist for organizing support

  • Create and prioritize task list
  • Inform yourself about contact points and offers
  • Contact various providers or placement services
  • Make clear agreements about tasks and times
  • Plan support long-term
  • Communicate regularly and give feedback

Symbol for household help

More time for grandchildren

Network of support