Do Caregivers Do Housework? Understanding Responsibilities and Expectations

Oct 21, 2025 4 min read •

elder care caregiving Home Health

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, home health and personal care aides are projected to see much faster than average job growth, with tasks including both personal care and housekeeping. So, do caregivers do housework? Yes, caregivers typically perform light housekeeping duties as an important part of their role, ensuring a clean and safe living environment for the person in their care.

Quick Summary

Caregivers handle light housekeeping tasks like tidying, laundry, and meal prep to maintain a clean and safe home for their client. The specific duties depend on the care recipient's needs and the terms outlined in their care agreement. Deep cleaning is generally not included in a caregiver's scope of work.

Key Points

Caregivers perform light housekeeping: Their duties include cleaning up the care recipient's living space, doing their laundry, and preparing meals.
Housekeeping is for safety: Cleaning tasks help create a safe and hygienic environment, reducing the risk of falls and infections for the person in care.
Deep cleaning is not included: Caregivers are not expected to perform heavy-duty tasks like washing windows, scrubbing floors, or deep cleaning the entire home.
Care agreements define duties: Specific housekeeping responsibilities should be clearly outlined in a care plan or contract, whether with an agency or a family caregiver.
Communication is crucial: Open discussion with the care recipient and their family helps set and manage expectations about the scope of housework.
Primary role is personal care: While light cleaning is part of the job, the main focus of a caregiver is always providing direct support and assistance to the individual in need.
Legal limits on housework exist: Some regulations, particularly for private attendants, may limit general housekeeping to no more than 20% of the total workweek.

The Importance of Housekeeping in a Caregiver's Role

For a person receiving care, a tidy and hygienic living space is directly linked to their physical and mental well-being. Caregivers help prevent accidents by removing clutter that could cause trips and falls, especially for those with mobility issues. A clean environment also reduces the risk of infection, which is vital for seniors or individuals with compromised immune systems. The emotional benefit is equally important, as a well-kept home can reduce stress and anxiety for both the care recipient and the caregiver. The specific tasks a caregiver performs are always centered around supporting the care recipient's needs, rather than acting as a general cleaning service.

What "Light Housekeeping" Includes

Caregiver-provided housekeeping is specifically limited to tasks directly benefiting the care recipient. These duties are not intended to cover the entire household, especially if other able-bodied family members reside there.

Common light housekeeping duties include:

Cleaning the client's living areas: This involves tidying the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen spaces used by the care recipient.
Meal preparation and kitchen clean-up: Planning and cooking meals according to dietary needs, washing dishes, and wiping down counters are standard duties.
Laundry and linen care: Washing, drying, folding, and putting away the client's clothes, towels, and bedsheets are common tasks.
Light cleaning tasks: This can involve dusting, sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming, with a focus on high-traffic areas.
Taking out the trash: Caregivers are responsible for disposing of garbage from the care recipient's areas.
Grocery shopping and errands: This includes picking up necessary items and prescriptions to ensure the client has what they need.

What "Housekeeping" is Not

It is crucial for families and agencies to distinguish between a caregiver's light housekeeping and the services of a professional cleaner. Professional caregivers are not expected to perform heavy-duty or non-essential cleaning tasks.

Heavy-duty tasks typically excluded include:

Shampooing carpets or scrubbing floors on hands and knees
Washing windows or cleaning gutters
Performing deep cleaning of the entire house
Moving heavy furniture
Providing maintenance for yards or shoveling snow

Professional Caregiver vs. Professional Housekeeper

To further clarify the difference, consider the primary role and training for each profession. This comparison table highlights their distinct focus areas.


Feature	Professional Caregiver	Professional Housekeeper
Primary Focus	The health, safety, and well-being of the care recipient.	The cleanliness and upkeep of the home or household.
Core Skills	Personal hygiene assistance (bathing, dressing), medication reminders, mobility support, and companionship.	Cleaning techniques, organizing, and attention to detailed maintenance.
Training	Often requires formal training, certifications (like CNA), and ongoing education focused on health and patient care.	Typically learns on the job; may have specialized training for cleaning protocols, but not focused on health.
Housework Scope	Limited to light housekeeping directly related to the care recipient's immediate living space.	Comprehensive cleaning services, often including deep cleaning, window washing, and other intensive tasks.
Oversight	Supervised by a care manager or RN to ensure health and safety standards are met.	Oversight is typically a simple client satisfaction check.

Setting Clear Expectations

Clear communication is key to preventing misunderstandings about a caregiver's duties. When hiring through an agency, a detailed care plan or contract will outline the specific tasks to be performed. For family caregivers, an open and honest conversation about responsibilities is essential to manage the workload and prevent burnout. By establishing boundaries early, everyone involved can ensure the primary focus remains on the care recipient's needs while maintaining a comfortable living space.

Conclusion: Housekeeping is Part of the Comprehensive Care Package

In summary, caregivers do perform housework, but it is typically limited to light housekeeping duties that support the care recipient's daily comfort, health, and safety. This includes tasks like tidying living areas, preparing meals, and doing laundry. The primary distinction from a professional housekeeper is the focus: a caregiver's cleaning activities are always incidental to providing direct personal care and companionship. By setting clear expectations through an agency or a written agreement, families can ensure their loved one receives the comprehensive, dignified care they deserve in a clean and safe environment, without burdening the caregiver with excessive cleaning tasks.

Additional Support for Family Caregivers

If the workload of caregiving and housekeeping becomes too demanding, there are external resources available. Hiring a professional cleaning service for deep cleaning or utilizing respite care services can provide much-needed relief. Communication with other family members to delegate tasks can also help manage the responsibilities effectively. Focusing on a care recipient's specific needs and not overextending the caregiver's role is critical for a sustainable and healthy caregiving arrangement. For more information, the National Alliance for Caregiving provides resources and support for family caregivers facing these challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

A caregiver's primary focus is the health and well-being of a person who needs assistance with daily activities. Housekeeping tasks, like tidying and laundry, are performed incidentally for the care recipient's benefit. A housekeeper's sole responsibility is the comprehensive cleaning and maintenance of the home.

No, a caregiver's responsibilities are limited to light housekeeping in the areas used by the care recipient. They are not expected to clean the entire house, especially areas used by other, able-bodied family members. This distinction helps prevent misunderstandings and overworking the caregiver.

Yes, many family caregivers take on housework as part of their duties, especially if the care recipient can no longer manage these tasks. It's crucial for families to discuss and agree upon these responsibilities to avoid burnout.

Common light housekeeping tasks include meal preparation and kitchen clean-up, washing the care recipient's laundry, changing bed linens, dusting, vacuuming, and taking out the trash.

Yes, it is often recommended to hire a separate, professional cleaning service for deep cleaning or heavy tasks, as these fall outside the scope of a typical caregiver's duties. This allows the caregiver to focus on their primary caregiving responsibilities.

Yes, some state and federal regulations, particularly for 'personal attendants,' specify that general housekeeping duties should not exceed a certain percentage of the total weekly hours worked (e.g., 20%). This is important to consider, especially when dealing with overtime regulations.

Open communication is vital. For both professional and family caregivers, create a written agreement or care plan that clearly lists the specific housekeeping duties expected, helping to prevent misunderstandings down the line.

References

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.