Hiring family assistants is really popular right now, with many households desiring a personal assistant and a nanny. A family assistant is essentially a personal assistant and nanny combined into one professional to take care of a wide range of household needs.

While some households have both a personal assistant and a nanny, others are moving toward this new “hybrid” that allows them to have one person to take care of multiple needs for the entire family.

Family Assistants vs. Nannies

There are several differences between family assistants and nannies you need to know to determine which household professional is right for you and your family.

#1: Family assistants cater to the entire family, and nannies cater to children.

Family assistants provide services for the entire family when the family needs someone to do more than provide childcare services. Family assistants serve as the family’s personal assistant to help manage the household and a nanny for the children.

Nannies, on the other hand, primarily focus on caring for the children. Parents typically hire a nanny when they need someone to watch their children because they have busy schedules. Parents hire family assistants to free up their time to have more time to spend with their children.

#2: Nannies feed your kids, and family assistants feed the entire family.

Nannies are responsible for feeding the children in their care. So, when you get home after a long day of work, you have to figure out dinner yourself. However, with a family assistant, you can have them prepare dinner for everyone. Family assistants will keep your pantry and refrigerator stocked since you have them do your grocery shopping too.

#3: Family assistants earn more than nannies.

Since family assistants have more duties and responsibilities, they earn more than nannies, although the amount is much less than hiring a separate personal assistant and nanny.

#4: Family assistants will perform administrative duties.

Family assistants will check your emails, answer the phone, schedule appointments, plan travel arrangements, pick up the dry cleaning, schedule household maintenance, and other such duties. Nannies will only take care of administrative duties related directly to the children like scheduling doctor appointments, play dates, etc.

#5: Family assistants have at least a Bachelor’s Degree.

Family assistants are typically required to have at least a Bachelor’s Degree because they perform such a wide range of duties. Rather than their degree being solely in childcare or child education, like a nanny will have, their degree can include business administration, accounting, finance, computer skills, and organizational skills.

#6: Family assistants help the entire family stay organized.

Nannies are expected to help keep play areas and the kids’ rooms organized but not the rest of the house. On the other hand, family assistants can help organize any room in the home you need assistance with, such as your home office, closets, kitchen, etc. Family assistants can also help manage to-do lists and decluttering the house.

#7: Family assistant tasks include running errands for the entire family.

Unlike nannies, who will take care of errands related just to the children, family assistant tasks take care of any errands for everyone. Whether it is grocery shopping, picking up the dry cleaning, or taking your car in to get an oil change, you can send your family assistant to free you up to take your kids to the zoo, library, or soccer practice.

#8: Family assistants can help with landscaping and gardening.

Since family assistants help manage the household, they can take care of landscaping and gardening needs like hiring a landscaper, scheduling yard maintenance, etc. Some family assistants also help the family start a small box garden or flower garden for them to enjoy. 

#9: Family assistants are also dog walkers.

You do not have to hire a separate dog walker when you have a family assistant. They will take the dog for walks when you do not have the time. Nannies will typically not walk the dog unless they are also taking the children for a walk.

#10: Nannies only wash kids’ clothing, but family assistants will wash the entire family’s clothing.

Do you hate doing laundry or want someone to fold the clothes when the dryer is done? If you have a nanny, only expect them to launder the kids’ clothing, not yours. However, if you have a family assistant, you can have them do laundry for the entire family as part of their job duties.

#11: Family assistants are also event planners.

Are you planning an event or other gathering and need help? You can turn to your family assistant for help hiring a caterer, sending invitations, and more. A nanny will assist when planning a child’s birthday party but not other events.

#12: Family assistants allow you more time with your children.

Family assistants are there to help you with tasks that would otherwise keep you too busy to spend time with your children. Nannies are there to help care for your children because you are too busy.

#13: Family assistants wear multiple hats.

You are free to decide what types of job duties, tasks, and responsibilities you want your family assistant to do for the entire family. This could involve light housekeeping, cooking meals, driving you to the airport, shopping, paying your bills, taking the kids to school and picking them up, and more.

In comparison, nannies will only take on different tasks if they specifically relate to the care of the children.

As can be seen, family assistants take care of the entire family and can help manage the household. Nannies, on the other hand, are there to provide childcare and perform duties directly related to the children.

What types of families can benefit from hiring a family assistant?

The types of families that can benefit from hiring a family assistant have the following needs:

• They want someone to take their children to school and pick them up.
• They want someone to take care of meal preparation for the entire family.
• They want someone to run errands for them.
• They need help keeping the home organized and neat.
• They need someone to assist them with administrative duties.
• They need someone to manage the household.
• They want someone to answer and make phone calls.
• They want someone to take care of household upkeep and maintenance.
• They want someone to help free up their time to have more time to spend with their children.
• They want someone to be flexible and willing to adjust their job duties and responsibilities, as needed, to keep the household running smoothly.

Is a family assistant a live-in or live-out position?

Just like nannies, family assistants can either be live-in or live-out positions. For example, if the family needs someone to be available and accessible whenever they want, they will want a live-in family assistant.

Alternatively, if the parents frequently travel during the week for work, they may require the family assistant to live-in during the week while they are gone and live-out on the weekends when they are home. On the other hand, if the family only needs the family assistant to work a set schedule, this is typically a live-out position.

It just depends on the family’s exact needs and job requirements whether they need to hire a family assistant as a live-in or live-out position.

How do I hire a family assistant?

There are two general options for hiring a family assistant: You can attempt to find one on your own, or you can go through a professional household staffing agency like Staffing at Tiffanie’s. Using an agency ensures that background checks, job references, and other such qualifications have already been verified.

The only thing you need to do is review resumes, choose candidates you want to interview, and decide which one you want to hire. Additionally, when you use Staffing at Tiffanie’s, we listen to your family’s needs and the family assistant tasks you want your family assistant to perform to find the most qualified candidates. 

For further information about hiring a family assistant, or to start the process of finding one, please feel free to contact us at 866-484-5550 today! We can also assist you with your other household staffing needs, including housekeepers, yacht stewards, personal drivers, and personal chefs.