For live-in care providers that are paid, how is pay scale determined?
In view of the fact that we work 24/7 with no breaks, it seems difficult to arrive at a wage that reflects our time.
Consider the overnite hours: while we mostly are sleeping, we are still on call and rise to demand when needed.
Up to now I have reported my income as “personal care in lieu of rent” on applications for food stamps and Medicaid. I want to affix a dollar amount now in order to draw up a care contract.
I live with my 93yo mother in her home which is paid off and she often feels bad because she can’t pay me. So she insists on paying for groceries and utilities herself.
(I often think how I’ve not paid into social security these past ten years, or have any other job related benefits.)
I do most of the spending and see that this is unrealistic as she runs short about $100 a month, so I use my retirement to make some purchases and I pay for any repairs and upkeep like lawn care.
Anyway, all this is in anticipation of having to be accountable when it comes time to apply for state aide, as she has no long term care coverage.
Please enlighten me. The only other preparedness in place is a will, a durable power of attorney, and she’s put her house in a trust with my older sister as executor and poa.
Thanks,
charlotte
PS: my retirement is negligible as I was a homemaker and cannot collect spousal benefits until my exhusband becomes of retirement age in a couple of years. FYI
This woman was being cared for by her only daughter until the daughter died of brain cancer.
The daughter left her mother under her best friend’s care when she knew she was dieing.
The friend reluctantly took over the care but tired of it quickly.
She announced suddenly that the aged woman had been placed in a home, moved her own daughter into the house and sold the other assets. Thereby the caretakers were no longer needed and failed to compensate them for the last month of services.
My friend filed a complaint with the labor board for lost wages and attempted to get pay she’d not been collecting for the long hours, as she felt the agreement they’d made regarding pay structure was broken by the sudden dismissal.
The labor board sided with the provider and the only explanation was “they don’t compute caregivers pay like regular workers, based on hours of work.” (ie: when you’re sleeping.) I find this very confusing.
We live in California.
Charlotte
Since you are living in your Mom's house, you should NOT be paying for things that she should be paying. That is her responsibly as a homeowner. If Mom can no longer afford the upkeep of the house, it is time to downsize into something more affordable. I know that isn't easy convincing an elder it is time to downsize.
You need to build up your retirement. Not working full time and being a non-paid caregiver you are losing around $350,000 in salary over the course of time... losing company offered paid benefits like health insurance, life insurance, profit sharing, matching contributions to a 401(k), paid vacation days, paid sick days, and funds placed into Social Security and Medicare, etc.
Please note, if your Mom needs to use Medicaid down the road. After Mom passes, Medicaid can put a lien on the house, and once the house sells, Medicaid will reimburse itself the cost of your Mom's care.
Time to speak with an "Elder Law Attorney" to see what would be the best path to take regarding your Mom, the house, and Medicaid [if needed]. Some States will allow the house to remain in the family depending on how long a grown child have been a full-time caregiver for that parent. Thus, you have been saving the State a lot of money caring for Mom yourself.
That sure sounds good to me as I have to manage all the upkeep around here one way or another and I can’t even find help for the yard work come summer.
However, not only does mom want to live at home, she wants to leave the home to us as our only inheritance, especially for me. She just doesn’t see what a burden it is. How could she see? She barely walks from her room to her recliner a couple times a day.
We have family all around us but no real help, not many good visits either. Sometimes that’s best imo.
Charlotte