I hope there is a plan for caregivers to give you a break. 8 hours is plenty. You need to have a break as well during the day. Your "room and board" are NOT compensation for caregiving. PLEASE check your state labor board for employee regulations. Make sure taxes are taken out of your pay. Make sure you have a contract. Make the contract so that it can be reviewed at least every 6 months. Work will increase as the person declines and with increased work there should be an increase in pay. Make sure that you can leave if it gets to the point where you are no longer safe caring for this person, or this person is not safe with you caring for them. they should also be open to your suggestions and concerns when equipment is necessary to make caregiving safe. I am sure there will be a lot of other suggestions for you to consider.
I’m gonna put it out here bluntly. Any family who thinks one person is gonna be able to do a 168 hour shift is not realistic nor is the caregiver. And further, getting the family let alone the old person to agree to an actual employment contract for this one caregiver doesn’t happen often.
The situation becomes mostly verbal and fluid. Someone gets upset and someone’s going to get screwed, or sued.
I would consider this very hard before I do it. Check with your labor board to the rules regarding livein help. What has been discussed on this forum is :
IRS considers you an employee not self-employed. That means the person hiring you needs to deduct payroll taxes and send them to the correct agency.
Room and board is a perk and you cannot be charged rent.
At least Minimum wages need to be paid. You work 40hrs a week, OT over 40hrs is time and a half. You get time off. This means another aide or two needs to be hired to work when u don't. You cannot be expected to work 24/7.
A contract written by a lawyer needs to be done. Your duties should be included. You are not a tenant. When the person ur caring for passes or needs to be placed...you must leave.
There are horror stories on this forum concerning live ins being taken advantage of. Also, live ins that won't leave. I would really think twice about getting involved especially if this is family. Family can be intimidating. Expecting because ur related.
The going rate here is 20 percent over minimum wage, so 20 an hour where I am. This is pretty much standard knowledge.
Employers don’t tend to offer the ideal contracts that people here have stated. Far more common is an under the table arrangement with verbal promises.
A 20 yo couldn’t do the job of 3 people. Once dementia and or double incontinence come into play, almost no one can.
If you take this job, it means you won’t ever go home.
As an employer for the past 30+ years: whether you are related to this person or not, absolutely get a contract in writing. This protects both parties. Making sure you're not the only caregiver is excellent advice. If this person is not able to transfer themselves to the toilet (and is a heavy person), make sure you have Worker's Comp. or some sort of insurance.
Is the home ADA compliant?
You have much experience in healthcare/medical which is good (and should command a higher wage if you're a retired RN or such), but not exactly the same as being a caregiver to someone with cognitive issues. If you take this position, I strongly recommend you educate yourself through books and videos, such as Teepa Snow on YouTube.
I've hired aids through agencies and have been shocked that they've provided no training regarding dementia. Good luck!
And there must be a care agreement\contract in place that describes your duties, hours of work\on duty, rate of pay, PTO, and other benefits. Nobody can be expected to work a 24hour shift, there must be other caregivers used as well.
The contract should stipulate that you will be an employee with all taxes, workmen's comp, social security, etc withheld. As an employee, again, I will say room and board are not part of the salary. Many families will try to use this in order to, sometimes, save inheritance.
Be very careful with this we see so many stories of caregivers being taken advantage of and then cannot get out of it. They are trapped.
8 hours is plenty.
You need to have a break as well during the day.
Your "room and board" are NOT compensation for caregiving.
PLEASE check your state labor board for employee regulations.
Make sure taxes are taken out of your pay.
Make sure you have a contract.
Make the contract so that it can be reviewed at least every 6 months. Work will increase as the person declines and with increased work there should be an increase in pay.
Make sure that you can leave if it gets to the point where you are no longer safe caring for this person, or this person is not safe with you caring for them.
they should also be open to your suggestions and concerns when equipment is necessary to make caregiving safe.
I am sure there will be a lot of other suggestions for you to consider.
The situation becomes mostly verbal and fluid. Someone gets upset and someone’s going to get screwed, or sued.
IRS considers you an employee not self-employed. That means the person hiring you needs to deduct payroll taxes and send them to the correct agency.
Room and board is a perk and you cannot be charged rent.
At least Minimum wages need to be paid. You work 40hrs a week, OT over 40hrs is time and a half. You get time off. This means another aide or two needs to be hired to work when u don't. You cannot be expected to work 24/7.
A contract written by a lawyer needs to be done. Your duties should be included. You are not a tenant. When the person ur caring for passes or needs to be placed...you must leave.
There are horror stories on this forum concerning live ins being taken advantage of. Also, live ins that won't leave. I would really think twice about getting involved especially if this is family. Family can be intimidating. Expecting because ur related.
Employers don’t tend to offer the ideal contracts that people here have stated. Far more common is an under the table arrangement with verbal promises.
A 20 yo couldn’t do the job of 3 people. Once dementia and or double incontinence come into play, almost no one can.
If you take this job, it means you won’t ever go home.
Do you have a home?
Is the home ADA compliant?
You have much experience in healthcare/medical which is good (and should command a higher wage if you're a retired RN or such), but not exactly the same as being a caregiver to someone with cognitive issues. If you take this position, I strongly recommend you educate yourself through books and videos, such as Teepa Snow on YouTube.
I've hired aids through agencies and have been shocked that they've provided no training regarding dementia. Good luck!
If a dysfunctional family, she just should.not so it. Destroys familial relationships. Walk away.
The contract should stipulate that you will be an employee with all taxes, workmen's comp, social security, etc withheld. As an employee, again, I will say room and board are not part of the salary. Many families will try to use this in order to, sometimes, save inheritance.
Be very careful with this we see so many stories of caregivers being taken advantage of and then cannot get out of it. They are trapped.
Call a local homecare agency and ask what they charge for live-ins.
Start by asking for the agency rate in your salary negotiations.
Do NOT fall for "but room and board are part of your salary". They are not.