Dad moved in with me a couple months ago and things have just calmed down after the passing of his wife to the point that I was able to meet with an elder law attorney yesterday. He doesn't qualify (due to assets) for Medicaid/Veterans Benefits, but he may require it some day, if he ever gets to a point that I'm not longer able to care for him.
Dad has mid-stage dementia and is very uncomfortable around people he doesn't know; he even becomes agitated when new people come to the home that he doesn't know. Because of this, I'm going to have to resign to only family members filling in for me for respite care when my husband and I need time away. One brother lives an hour away and the other is 2.5 hrs. Because of the distance they have to travel, I told the attorney that I'd like the care agreements to pay at a rate of $25/hr. She said this was too high and said she'd like to see it more around $14-16/hr. The Genworth website reflects an hourly rate of $27/hr, so I thought I was safe at $25/hr, but she says that's an agency's rate and includes their overhead. We settled at $20/hr.
I'd like to get some input as to what some of you pay family members or other non-agency affiliated caregivers. I live in Wisconsin and I really don't think $20/hr is outrageous. And if I'm limited to family members (and can't pay mileage rates), I should at least be able to pay the "going rate".
Thoughts?
minimum… agencies more like 35/40
actually if family members giving you some respite and rest I wouldn’t be nickel and diming them … be thankful they’re helping .
Your family attorney wants to treat care like a business. Go for it. Tell her you’ve reconsidered. You were remiss in treating this as a family matter instead of a business matter. Thanks to her enlightening you, you realize that your status is an employee in this caregiver business and therefore you expect to be paid.
If you were in Connecticut, I’d say ask for a salary of $60,000/year plus costs for room and board for 24/7 care, 1 day a week off (the lawyer hires part time help), 20 day vacation and social security contributions as required by law. You will pay taxes. This is a real number for what a caregiver I knew was paid 6 yrs ago BEFORE todays inflation. Granted it was upscale Connecticut.
So, using that as a basis, set a comprehensive value and price for your services in your community and expect it. You are the single most qualified person for this job. Caregiving is tough and everything I’ve read on posts is that dementia takes an added toll on caregivers. The lawyer will patronize and try to play you, but seriously, she opened the door. Don’t let her bully you. You can tell her moving dad to a facility is an option. Obviously second rate option, but then what does that say about her respect and the family’s respect for you if you get paid less than a bad option?
Then you can afford to subcontract as needed and at a rate you feel necessary.
$14 seems really low. Almost insulting. If anything family deserves to be paid more, not less. It's not like you're going to be getting rich off this senior simply by doing work for market rrate.
What exactly are the caregiving duties that you do for him? I see nothing wrong with $25/hour!
And why aren't YOU being paid for taking care of your father????? (Or are you?) If your father has assets, you should be compensated.
I got $20/hour, and did no hands-on care for my mother. I did not live with her. I was paid by a POA brother. No taxes taken out, and it was all a gift to me, as she would never have qualified for Medicaid.
It seems like you ARE doing hands-on care. Why should your brothers get paid and not you? They get paid to take care of THEIR mother, but you do it for free? (Again, I hope this is NOT the case!)
If you expect to eventually apply for assistance for your father, everyone who is being paid must declare the income on their tax returns and you will have to file and pay employment taxes.
You can hire Caregivers for $12 an hr in Texas.
You settled for $20 and that's high, you can get a Nurse for that amount.
And if they speak English or if English second language.