LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — “Rent A Grandma,” a business in Las Vegas, provides a variety of services such as nannying, babysitting, in-home care, cooking, and domestic staff, and is currently employing individuals with a large breadth of life experience to help those who need it.
Magdalena Brandon said her business was experiencing a slow period and wanted to lend her time and a helping hand. She decided to enroll in Rent A Grandma.
“I always like to look for other means of doing things,” Brandon said. The flexible hours and variety of duties appealed to her, whether she was running to the grocery store or taking someone to the doctor’s office.
Brandon recounted her time with a 99-year-old in assisted living with whom she would regularly go to lunch. The experience included a historical perspective on the Korean War, she said, adding that she found it rewarding to bring some happiness to the veteran’s life. It’s that type of experience that Rent A Grandma looks to provide for its staff and its clients, placing individuals with families as nannies, babysitters, in-home care providers, chefs, cooks, and domestic staff.
The local franchise opened in February. Dianne Mayor, founder and CEO of the Las Vegas business, said she saw a need for the service in the Las Vegas valley, citing her experience when her first granddaughter was born.
“I cared for her after the birth, and I realized there was a real need in this community for a service like that, so I became a postpartum doula and a newborn care specialist,” said Mayor. “For 16 years, I’ve been caring for newborns and their families, and I realized after my daughter had another grandbaby [that Rent A Grandma] is something the community definitely needs.”
She said the service brings a warm and friendly approach to any task.
“When a client calls, and they’re asking for a grandma, I try to fit them with the best grandma that can suit their needs depending on where they live and the hours they want to work,” Mayor said, detailing a request she received for a grandma that could provide a home-cooked meal. “We can do it all.”
Since its grand opening, 25 grandmas and five grandpas have been enrolled. Each of them undergoes a background check and is CPR-trained. More information on Rent A Grandma is available on the organization’s website. Service prices vary, but Mayor said most cost approximately $25 per hour, the same amount employed grandparents receive as payment.
