My mom was recently placed in SNF long term. She is an amputee that was wheelchair bound for about 5 years and is now bedridden due to medical difficulties and pain. This has all come about within months of me moving out of state. I have a month left to clear her apartment, leave her with a few personals and arrange anything else besides my own moving. The last few years she has used a neighbor as a part time caretaker/errand runner through the county's low income program. It paid $10 hr.
She has told me she will visit my mom 2x week in the SNF to check on her even though she is no longer paid, to get her gum, personals, etc. There is not much to get as my mom hasn't been getting out of hospital gown for 3 months (pain, bedridden) and doesn't eat (TPN, GI issues) but I think it is important to have someone local, get you a few things if needed or requested. She also can hold a few boxes of personal items for my mom in case she wants something specific. I think she will do this, but I worry as I'm out of state and will visiting just periodically. I'd like to offer her neighbor a similar pay or some sort of companion fee for her time. I feel like if it's some paid time like before she might not get too busy with other clients and my mom get pushed to the back burner. It would be natural that that might happen. What would I offer to pay or how do I go about asking? I can say $10/hr but I'm not sure how many hours realistically it would be. It would be as a more as needed and available. Maybe a weekly amount?