Family wants me to provide live-in care for less pay. Why would I do that when I already have a home?

What an unfortunate circumstance. If you say no to being a live-in, you could lose your client. But saying yes under the terms is not good. Still I would say no and say that they would need to hire someone to stay the other hours. If they see that they can't get the second person for free, even with room and board, they might understand. I hope you are able to keep your client.

I once calculated the pay just for overtime if one person does all of the care. I don't know how contracted positions with elder care in home firms would do this, but the cost based on hourly wage and over time is about $145,000 based on caregiver wages in my area. Forty hour weeks, 52 weeks a year are about $25,000.00 at $12.00/hour. A 40 hour week is 2,080 hours over 52 weeks, one week is a total of 168 hours, so 128 hours of overtime at time and a half, $18.00/hour, or an additional $120,000.00.

Decline their offer. If you are willing to do live-in work, explain that you would expect more pay. If you prefer to spend some of your time at your own home, tell them that you are willing to continue on the same terms.

Do not accept less pay for more hours.

Do not agree to the live-in arrangement at all without knowing how they will cover your time off. They cannot think you will be there 24/7/365 -- and yet their offer to you shows their ignorance of about this employment situation, so be very clear about all details.

I agree with orange! This happens in families too when non-caregiving sibs think room and board should be charged to the caregiving sib. And all because of impact on their inheritance. You know that caregiving on my spell checker wants to change to sacrificing?'Strange and so true. If they will not pay you more I would tell them they need to find someone to spend nights. This situation could easily get out of hand as the family expects you to always be available. Stand firm, family has become accustomed to you and probably wants to avoid the change.

I would make it clear that I would not be willing to work more hours for less pay - that makes no sense at all, regardless of the room and board issue. They would also need to find another live-in for weekend duty so you can have time off. And you should get vacation pay and some kind of benefits. Live-in is much more than a FT job.