There is a sit as for France, with no animal care involved but wants someone to look after an elderly person, doing shopping taking to appts.
Is this within the remit?
1 Like
I saw that. It looks new. Maybe it passed THS āvettingā because it is written in French. I didnāt report it because policing THS isnt my job.
8 Likes
I have seen that listing now, there is nothing against the rules.
If you do not want to do it, you just skip it.
2 Likes
As far as I know, it is against the rules since sitters are suppossed to look after pets or houses (when HO donāt have pets), but not people. Maybe someone from THS can clear this up @Jenny @Carla
There is no rule preventing the owners from asking sitters to provide additional non-commercial services:
5.1.12. only use the Services for domestic and private use, and will not use the Services in connection with any business or other organisation or for any commercial purpose whatsoever
and the home is empty as the person does not stay there.
3 Likes
Interesting - I actually did a sit in the UK a few years back and the HO mentioned that the neighbor might ask for some help. She did early on, initially by blocking my car in the driveway when her battery died. I did help out by helping her "use her phone to call another neighbor to jump start her car, then moving her car into her driveway. Fortunately that was about all she asked for as she then quarantined herself for covid. The HO even mentioned it in her review āTom is a lovely helpful chap, our elderly neighbour was unwell and he helped her out too.ā
2 Likes
Iām sure there will be sitters who apply and donāt mind helping out in lieu of pet care if itās a nice place but hope the owners do their homework on the sitter. Youād expect that there would be much better options than a (likely) untrained and unqualified complete stranger.
1 Like
What training program and what qualifying licence would be required for getting groceries?
Itās kind of these folks to help their neighbor. It takes a village, as they say.
That said, anyone who considers this sit should ask key questions about expectations and what kind of shape the neighbor is in.
Personally, I might be OK with this. I did the same sort of stuff as a volunteer for the blind ā was paired with an elderly woman and regularly took her for walks and drives, to the bank and supermarket and such. She was otherwise able bodied. Iād describe things to her; read signs and labels and her mail out to her; write checks to pay bills and such. All volunteers had been criminally background checked. I did it till moving to another part of the country.
I wouldnāt be OK with this sort of sit if say the person werenāt able bodied and needed more intensive help. Like I wouldnāt want to handle their medications or do home health aide type work.
My French is not that great but it looks like the neighbor has reduced mobility and the housesit would involve taking the neighbor shopping and to appointments. I probably wouldnāt mind just picking up groceries, but Iād be concerned about taking the person places.
1 Like
Of course itās against the rules. How can a sitter be responsible for an elderly person?! Thatās a carer role. Weāre not here to care for people but animals, although Iād be happy to help out with picking up prescriptions/groceries if it was a neighbour. What if the elderly person had a fall or became ill?
6 Likes
@Rose These are the THS guidelines on what a sitterās responsibilities are :
āSitters are only expected to help maintain their home and care for their pets in their absence in exchange for free accommodation.
Sitters are not expected to complete any tasks that are considered āworkā.ā
4 Likes
I wouldnāt touch that with a barge pole. I take sits to get away from people! 
8 Likes
Iād stay away from this. TH is a pet-sitting site, not a human-sitting site. What if you got in a car accident when taking her grocery shopping? What if she injured herself while āin your careā? What if something happened to you and you couldnāt check on her for a while? Itās way too much liability.
4 Likes