DM doesn't want to get a cleaner because "they're for posh people"

[CleanerConundrums]

My mum is in her early 60s. She doesn't want to acknowledge that she should be slowing down at this point in her life. I think she should be taking things easier as she enters the autumn of her life. She does all the cleaning in her house herself. I don't feel comfortable with the thought of her climbing on ladders, kneeling down, mopping the floor and hoovering every day. To that end I have suggested the idea of her hiring a cleaner. I would even be willing to pay for them myself. Whenever I mention it, she balks at the idea. She has said that only posh people get cleaners. I see plenty of posts on MN from people with cleaners, some of whom are younger than my mum. I'm sure that most of them wouldn't consider themselves to be posh. She doesn't have a gardener either, which is another matter. What are people's thoughts on this?

It doesn’t really matter what other people do or think, many people clean their own houses well beyond their 60s and if she’s happy to do that then good for her.

Many many people in their early 60s do their own cleaning and gardening. She's not particularly old and she doesn't want a cleaner right now so that's the end of that. Being active in the 'autumn' of her life is actually really good for her.

"this point in her life""? She's 60, not 100. Of course she should still be doing the gardening and cleaning if she wants to!

I was a cleaner for years, and my then DP was a gardener. We both avoided working for "posh" people because they tended to see/treat us as "staff". We deliberately only worked for "normal" (mainly elderly) clients who needed help around the house and garden. Like your mum, in fact!

Tell your mum that most cleaners genuinely prefer working for nice normal people who just need an extra pair of hands!

Though as other posters have pointed out, she's hardly in her twilight years. I know cleaners in their 60s 😂

She's 60 not 80.

Why is she hoovering daily?

Am in early 60s and still working full time ,active and socialise regularly
No intention of slowing down

Can you discuss it with her and get her a session of one-off cleaning as a Christmas/birthday present as a little break for her?

It's possible she'll see it as less intimidating then, and even if she doesn't go on to want a cleaner immediately, she'll likely think of it more favourably in future if she needs it!

Early 60s🤣. Is she fit and well generally?

I’m late 50s and do hard gym classes a few times a week. I would hate my DCs to talk about me like I’m ancient.

Our cleaner is in her 60’s, the majority of people I know are working fulltime at 60, she isn’t 90 with delicate hips.

It's better to stay active for as long as possible. When you stop doing that your body tends to stop working as well as it did.

And who needs to do that level of cleaning daily!

Firstly, she's early 60s not early 90s! My mum's still doing all her cleaning in her late 70s. It's very important to stay active.
Secondly, you say she's climbing up ladders, hoovering, etc every day. If this is true, maybe she needs to calm down a bit. Nobody needs to hoover every day (unless she has huge dogs or something).

The whole ‘autumn of her life’ malarkey sounds dreadfully patronising.

I'm in my early 60s. My cleaner is a year older than me. I have her because I hate cleaning and dont really have the time for it because of work, not because I am decrepit!

Neither of us climbs up ladders though.

It's not for you to decide this or even have an opinion on it. It's your mother's house and your mother's time. She's happy to clean herself so there's nothing to be said.

Yes. Our last UK cleaner was 65 and a Parkrun fanatic.

I have a cleaner

I'm common as fook

A lot of cleaners aren’t very good, and many people quite like cleaning and find it therapeutic.

Most people in their early 60s are still working! My cleaner is turning 60 next year, should I be telling her to retire?

The autumn of her life?!
unless she has serious health issues then early sixties is no age!!
being active and busy is fine, in fact it’s preferabld
leave her to it

Good lord, the last thing you want to do is encourage someone in their early 60s is to slow down physical activity. It's great that she is climbing ladders etc.

What am I even reading? Early sixties anc can’t clean her house as she’s so,elderly? The retirement age is 67/68 😂

I don't think it's your decision! Would you prefer her to spend the next several decades sitting in an armchair? I think you have a very skewed view about age.

Why do you want her to slow down?!
Keeping busy and active is what will maintain her health and wellbeing.
My grandmother was mowing her own lawn until she was 90.
Don't understand how you can think early sixties is so old!