What is fair compensation for roommates/live in?
A little background, my grandmother was in an assisted living and we found the care to be lacking. We then moved her to adult living complex that was all inclusive but we employed private care. So basically we were paying $4000 a month for no care through the facility but then another $3000 for private care. Her apartment was 45 mins from my house but several times I’ve had to go over there at 2 am because of varies mini disasters. After a little over a year of her living on her own, I realize that I needed to move her closer because I was too far to be hands-on with her care & to save money. Honestly, she’s still going strong at 88 and we couldn’t continue the way we were.
So here we are, we bought her a little house down the street and customized it to fit her mobility needs but she does not want to stay there at night alone. We still have the caregivers come in 6 hours a day. I’m there in the morning & checking through the day. Her medicine is on pill “hero” & I (or the caretaker) provide most meals.
Here’s my question: Since my grandmother does not want be there alone at night so we brought in somebody (A friend of one of our caregivers) who is retired, that was a caregiver but is in need of a place to live. Like I mean, she has been “sofa surfing” for a quite a while. It’s probably not the perfect fit but she needs a place and my grandmother wants a roommate. She has been provided a beautiful room and no expenses. Initially I thought she would provide her own food but as it’s worked out my grandmother has paid for that too. She’s able to come and go as she pleases, my only requirement is that she’s home at night and lets me know if she’s not going be home by 8 PM . She’s also supposed to provide 2 hours a day in care.. only meaning getting coffee, cleaning the cat litter box, letting the dog out or making breakfast. It’s really just living chores. When I calculated the trade, I calculated $15 an hour times two hours a day. So basically she’s been giving $900 in room & board compensation. The problem is that it’s hard to separate care from just her being there because she’s always hanging out with my grandmother if I add up actual chores that she does throughout the day we are right around the two hour mark.
Should there be any additional compensation? Any thoughts?
I would impress on her that Mom is not responsible for her food. If its being cooked, one more person no problem but if she has certain things she likes but Mom doesn't then she should buy that and her toiletries.
You need to see a lawyer and have an agreement written as a roommate doing a few chores to offset the cost of room and board and being there at night. And at the time her responsibilities become more caregiving in nature a new contract will be written concerning responsibilies and compensation. I would also have a clause in there regarding if Mom passes or needs to be placed in a facility that she will need to find other housing within 30 days. She will not be allowed to remain in the house. There have been horror stories on this forum where they cannot get rid of a live in caregiver. One moved her whole family in. I may also put a clause no pets, no over night people staying.
I would also make sure anything of value is removed from the house. That includes checks and credit cards.