PAs use life skills to help others live independently

Personal Assistants use their life skills to assist others. here are some ideas of services that you can offer to clients

Laundry

• Sorting clothes
• Washing
• Drying
• Folding and organising
• Ironing
• Dry cleaning drop-off and pickup
• Stain removal

Cleaning

• Dusting furniture and fixtures
• Vacuuming and mopping floors
• Cleaning windows and window sills
• Cleaning bathrooms (toilets, bathtubs, sinks, floors)
• Kitchen cleaning (countertops, sinks, stovetops, inside the oven, microwaves, etc.)
• Emptying trash bins and replacing liners

Pet Care

• Feeding
• Walking
• Grooming and bathing
• Cleaning litter boxes or cages
• Scheduling vet appointments
• Pet sitting

Grocery Shopping 

• Creating shopping lists 
• Shopping for groceries
• Organising and restocking the pantry shelves
• Checking expiration dates and removing expired items

Meal Preparation

• Planning meals based on dietary requirements
• Cooking and preparing dishes
• Packaging meals for the week
• Cleaning up after cooking

Errand Running

• Post office visits for mailing or picking up packages
• Pharmacy pickups
• Shopping for household supplies
• Picking up or returning library books

Organising and Decluttering

• Organising closets
• Sorting out storage rooms
• Recommending items for donation or disposal
• Labelling boxes or containers

Plant Care

• Watering indoor and outdoor plants
• Repotting plants as needed
• Pruning and trimming plants
• Checking for pests and diseases

Home Maintenance Coordination

• Scheduling and supervising repair or maintenance appointments (e.g., plumber, electrician)

Bill Management

• Organising bills
• Scheduling payments
• Filing away paid bills

Guest Preparation

• Setting up guest rooms
• Arranging fresh linens and toiletries
• Stocking food and beverages based on guest preferences

Transportation Arrangements

• Providing transport if insured to do so
• Booking car services or taxi reservations
• Coordinating car maintenance or cleaning

Digital Assistance

• Organising digital files and photos
• Setting up home Wi-Fi or other tech equipment
• Basic troubleshooting of home electronics

Christmas and Special Occasion Assistance

• Decorating the home
• Sending out invitations or thank-you notes
• Wrapping gifts

Appointment Scheduling

• Booking medical appointments
• Coordinating with other service providers (e.g., hairstylist, masseuse)

Carer respite

• Sitting with a cared-for person whilst the primary carer goes to personal appointments.
• Sitting with a cared-for person whilst the primary carer attends a social occasion.
• Attending social occasions with a primary carer to provide support for the cared-for person during the event e.g. a family wedding. 
• Overnight respite care support at the primary carer's residence allows a primary carer to enjoy a full night's sleep. 
• Accompanying the family with a child with additional needs on a family outing supports the child and allows the rest of the family to enjoy the outing without additional responsibility.
• Support for parents of children with additional needs to take a break from caring and spend time with other family members or to attend appointments. [Sometimes known as 'short breaks']
• To provide support for young carers by assisting with domestic chores such as cleaning, laundry, and food preparations.
• Providing young carers with a break from caring so that they can socialise with friends and attend clubs or go shopping.

Personal Assistants may need specific training to offer some care services such as Medication Awareness, Dementia patient assistance, and personal grooming. Personal care provision by a PA is restricted to non-regulated activities as determined by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) however, some services for PAs who are directly employed by the person they care for may include areas of personal care that would otherwise be regulated care. 

Care Support

• Assisting with grooming, and dressing 
• Reminding the care receiver to take prescribed medicines

Companionship

• Engaging in conversations
• Playing board games or cards
• Reading to the care receiver
• Accompanying them on walks or short outings

Prescriptions and appointments

• Picking up prescriptions
• Taking the care receiver to medical or other appointments

Emotional Support

• Engaging in therapeutic activities like music or art
• Companionship

Recreational Activities

• Assisting with hobbies or crafts
• Watching movies or listening to music together
• Organising or participating in recreational outings

Sleep Oversight respite for live in carer

• Ensuring safety during the night, especially if the care receiver is prone to wandering or falls
• Assisting the live in carer with night-time routines, including getting into bed and using the bathroom

Communication Assistance

• Helping the care receiver make phone calls or write letters
• Setting up video calls with family or friends

Education and Stimulation

• Assisting with memory exercises or brain games
• Sharing news or educational materials

Safety Supervision

• Ensuring that the environment is safe and free of hazards
• Monitoring for signs of distress or discomfort taking appropriate action, and reporting to the primary carer