What is a caretaker?

Question

What is a caretaker?

Answer 1

That would be someone who takes care of someone or something, usually something living, like a groundskeeper for example, taking care of an estate house and grounds when the owner isn't around (or even when he is), or a caretaker for a cemetary, keeps it mowed, picks up the dead and faded flowers, etc.  Or it could be someone who takes care of a person - like an elderly person who can't do for themselves so much anymore, or someone with a disability who needs help doing ordinary things.

Answer 2

A caretaker can be a person, company, or entity that has the responsibility of taking care of something.

It can be taking care of a person, of someone's home or property, of an estate or material posessions, or something bigger.

From www.dictionary.com (which is free to use) --

care·tak·er   /ˈkɛərˌteɪkər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kair-tey-ker] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun 1. a person who is in charge of the maintenance of a building, estate, etc.; superintendent.  

2. a person or group that temporarily performs the duties of an office.  

3. British. a janitor.  

4. a person who takes care of another.  

–adjective 5. involving the temporary performance of the duties of an office: a caretaker government.  

Its different from "caregiver" which usually refers to a person who takes care of another person who is sick or handicapped