The activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose; "he gave me an assist with the housework"; "could not walk without ance"; "rescue party went to their aid"; "offered his help in unloading" .The continuous protective care of the fabric, contents or setting of a place. In technical terms maintenance consists of regular inspections of a monument or site and may involve small-scale treatments (e.g. surface cleaning, renewal of protective coatings, etc.). Preventative maintenance is a powerful tool to prevent decay and avoid large-scale conservation-restoration treatments. A suitable maintenance programme implemented after the conservation treatment aims at preserving its improved conditions.