Japan’s rent-a-grandma service throws elderly a lifeline amid cost of living pressures
For US$20 an hour, these surrogate grandmothers are ready to offer services ranging from practical help to emotional support
For 3,000 yen (US$20) per hour, clients are set up with a woman aged 60 to 94 who will help with requests ranging from teaching cooking skills to breaking up with partners on her client’s behalf, according to local news site SoraNews24.
The elderly women can also babysit and mediate family disputes, and some have even been called in to act as emotional support for couples breaking up or men coming out as gay to their parents. Others have provided insight for clients researching societal changes in Japan.
Called OK Obaachan (OK Grandma), this unique service currently has a roster of about 100 women who reportedly offer housework expertise, interpersonal skills and historical knowledge.
The service was launched in 2011 by a company called Client Partners, which, according to its website, is a “women-only handyman company” that sets women up with jobs from housekeeping to being a “talking companion”. Besides grandmas, the company also offers rental services for other female family members and friends.
In addition to the hourly fee, clients pay 3,000 yen to cover the women’s transport costs.