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I would like to look into getting someone to live-in to help me. I'm not sure where to start. Any suggestions where to look or how you found your live in helper?


I was thinking offering room, board and a small salary with time off. I don't know if that sounds reasonable.

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Does she need aid with the activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing or moving about? Then seek out home health care done by certified nurses aides. You can call local home health agencies. Does she need help with cooking and house cleaning? You can always posts ads on Facebook and look for a housekeeper. Be certain to do background checks.
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Silverspring Sep 2019
I would prefer someone with some training in my case. I guess the home health agencies are the place to start and see what they offer. I know some people who have been disappointed with agencies they used for a few situations.
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Google senior home sharing. This is more and more common as facility assisted living is very expensive. Remember the Golden Girls?

https://www.mytrusense.com/2018/07/17/want-to-keep-living-at-home-a-senior-homeshare-may-be-the-answer/

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/senior-homesharing-30159.html
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Try a reputable agency in your area. They take care of background checks, taxes, insurance, etc. depending on salaries in your area, small salary might not be enough. House sharing always sounds good. But is not proving that successful. A recent experience in Cincinnati only lasted three weeks, The Golden Girls was a sit com, not reality. I have a full time, experienced housekeeper. She cleans, does laundry, runs errands. She is provided a small apartment with all utilities, cable, WiFi, etc. She does no cooking because I like to cook. She has two days off weekly, holidays and two weeks vacation, plus $500.00 salary weekly. Her arrangements are comparable for where we live.
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Isthisrealyreal Sep 2019
Lucky lady, cooking with someone to clean up.

Do you provide meals?
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Silverspring, hiring a person privately makes you an employer. Also, once someone lives in your house, that is their residence. If you needed to fire them, and they weren't willing to move out you'd literally need to go through an eviction process. That means filing legal documents requiring a fee (approx $300) and posting a notice for 30 days on the door. Then if they still won't leave you can at that point call the police to forcibly remove them. Please don't choose this option...it may seem "less expensive" in the beginning but can be incredibly "expensive" if it goes badly. Not to mention the very high risk of elder abuse (both physical and financial). FYI my family went through financial elder abuse, so am speaking from experience. Those predators are literally everywhere.

Please look into agencies like Visiting Angels. We are using them now (in FL) to care for 2 very elderly LOs and both the service and their caregivers have been awesome. Worth the money and peace of mind and the only true way to protect yourself.
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Silverspring Sep 2019
Thank you, I think the agency idea is a good one too so I can avoid some of the paperwork/insurance requirements. Do you have any idea of the price range for this service...I am thinking maybe 4 days for 7 hours on duty. I am interested in a HHA. I know hourly rates but don't have a clue what live in arrangements would do pricewise, although one should not expect full salary with room and board, otherwise I will scratch the live in and just have a day person come in.

I'll look into Visiting Angels too.
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You’ll have to offer more than a small salary just FYI. A live in caregiver needs a normal salary, they too have expenses to pay for. To do otherwise is essentially.....slavery. Which is illegal. If you don’t go through an agency, you’ll have to take care of payroll taxes and have workers compensation insurance.
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Silverspring Sep 2019
Before you jump on me about salary, I would pay a fair wage. But part of compensation is room and board. That can't be ignored.
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I would talk to friends and relatives about anyone they know that might be looking for a position like this. If you are involved in a church, speak with the Pastor and ask for help finding and vetting a person.

You will need to have a very detailed description of exactly what you are requiring them to do. It needs to be as real and accurate as possible. Nobody wants to agree to something and find out it wasn't the reality. You will want to check with your homeowners policy and ensure that a live in helper is covered, you will need to find out if you can add a workmans comp rider or how that works. You will need to put the time off, pay and expectations in writing. You can not ask anyone to be available 24/7 the labor laws require certain amounts of time off, you don't want to do anything that could open you up to any type of legal action.

Depending on what type of help you need, you may be better served in a facility. There are small ones to giant industrial sized ones and everything in between, so you would have to do some research to find a place that you could be comfortable in.

Have you had an official needs assessment? I would recommend that you get one, it will help you with your duties list or your search for a facility.

I hope you find what meets your needs best, whatever that is.
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Silver, I went thru a regular employment agency. It was a temp to hire position after she worked 60 days. Then our attorney provided a standard contract.

Real, You can eat for free and put your dishes in the dishwasher.:)
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Isthisrealyreal Sep 2019
That is nice that you cook enough for her. I personally have good relationships with my employees and I do the same type of thing. My guys always called me mom. It truly is the little thoughtful acts that make you a good employer.

I never thought about an employment agency for domestic help. Thanks Becky for putting that on the radar.
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In just stumbled across this article from AARP.

https://states.aarp.org/co-living
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