AMANI Domestics

A HELPER FOR THE ELDERLY
In the past our parents retired in the villages. There they were guaranteed of a community that would take care of them. In the recent past so much has changed. Village life is changing. With most people migrating to the towns or being busy with work which takes them out of home like trading. People who have lived most of their life in the urban areas now prefer not to return to the villages. Those from villages may come to live in town to be closer to healthcare. The face of retirement has changed and alot of people find themselves searching for house help for their elderly parents. Who should you hire? Some of our parents tend to insist that they want a relative of theirs to take care of them. However it's not always possible.
1. Allow the parent participate in choosing her helper
2. Look for a compassionate person. She needs to be able to empathize and be kind to your parent.
3. Look for someone who shares the same values as your parent.
4. Look for a flexible person. The needs of your parent will change as she ages. She may have mood swings or her sickness may progress.
5. She needs to have a little bit of experience looking after the elderly or if she's an excellent children's Nanny. Nanny's are also very good with the elderly.
6. Be flexible in the job description to factor in the need for companionship. A lot of her job will require simply sitting and listening to your parent. It's part of therapy.
7. Discuss the length of contract and details of salary.. Be fair in your renumeration, just like children, it causes anxiety and stress when you change caretakers.
8. Provide supplies, pay on time and give the caretaker reasonable breaks and holidays to rest.

Aaaah the drama of Amani domestic maids. Every day I see a shift that is very scary for the city woman to accept.
More and more the Ugandan housemaids are becoming assertive. The employer who wants a quality worker today, it seems has to be able and willing to be humble and accept that all we offer is money and the girls know they are offering life jobs, security, stability and so much more value to us.
We send ladies for interviews with prospective employers and the maid will confidently call us back to say "madam Olivia, I might be desperate but am not taking that woman's job. If she can speak to me like that in an interview what about at her house? Please find her someone else."
Meanwhile the client says to you I really liked that girl I will give her the job. When u tell her the girl declined, you will witness anger....... "who does she think she is, who can give her the money I was offering her? What exactly did she say..... Am calling her right now to give her a piece of my mind"