My Mom's money is dwindling, How much I should pay the caregivers when they are home, not caring for her?

how exactly does this work?

The caregivers need to be making their full time pay, whether that is from your mom, or from another client. If you keeping cutting their pay, they're probably going to look elsewhere for work, and quit working for your mom. You should specify with the caregivers their exact hours at least 2 weeks in advance and pay them for those hours.
If you want to re-negotiate their wages for "lesser" workload then do that up front, and specify how much notice you're going to give.
I cannot imagine any employer swinging their worker's wages willy-nilly, people have to know what their income will be for a given month, they have to pay their rent or mortgage and car payment.
I'm just trying to be helpful. You cannot keep good caregivers if you constantly cancel them and try to pay them less. Hope this advice is helpful.

For the 24/7 caregivers, they view this as their full time job. If they & your mom with MS who needs 24/7 care have an already established relationship & system that works, well that is pretty priceless. I would pay them their expected wages for this week & I'd pay them in full now so that they have some sense of security.

Then I'd clearly speak with the MDs & the social worker as to what mom's discharge situation is. I'd also ask the social worker if they can do a brief meeting regarding moms situation, discharge & care plan WITH you & the caregivers. I'm assuming that mom will go back home & the old pattern resumes. You want everybody all on the same page for "team mom". Especially important if you live out of state.

Now if moms stay could run into 2 or more weeks, then you need to speak with the caregivers to negotiate a reduced rate. Or whatever can be done to keep them on retainer for your mom. You could be surprised at what they will do, especially if they view mom as family. You have to think about what happens if they walk......you live out of state, can you take days or weeks off to get a whole new system in, up & going for mom? Go back & forth from state to state over the next couple of months & over the holidays? 24/7 MS care is not simple.

Also if there isn't an above board salary & taxes paid situation for them, then you really need to get the whole W-2, I-9 situation done for next year with some sort of caregiver contract. Perhaps view all this as an opportunity to reset & be all legal.

If they are responsible for meeting you Mom's needs, then they are on call. They are not able to accept another position while they may need to respond to your Mom at a moments notice. If they are agency caregivers perhaps you can work something ou that way. If they are in business for themself then you may be able to negotiate. But be prepared that if Mom needs something, anything, the negotiation may stall a response if necessary.

I think it is incredibly kind and generous of you to still pay even though they are really doing nothing but waiting. Talk to them... let them know you value their care they give your mother and... let them know the money isn't quite there for down time doing nothing. Maybe they can do a deep clean at mom's home while she's there recuperating?...especially since you will sill be paying for their service?

Best wishes for speedy recovery for your mother!!

We hired these people private care. Moms been good for a over a year. Now her money is going down some and for some time the caregivers will be staying home, Mom is hallucinating due to her bladder infection and sodium levels. I can see her being in the hospital for a week. I am asking for suggestions o how much should we pay the caregiver to wait and stay at home until Mom is released from the hospital? Is 100.00 a day good? or half 125.00? I do not feel it's fair to not pay them at all, but at the same time not fair to pay them the whole pay. I need advice. Suggestions. This is private care.

Are you hiring these people thru an agency? If so notify the agency you mom is in the hospital. If you are independently hiring them, if mom isn't home no they shouldn't get paid. And if all they are doing is sitting around in the waiting room, no they shouldn't get paid. However, if you are using them as sitters, meaning they are actually in the room with your mom giving care then they should be paid. You need a written contract with these folks if you are not using an agency to protect yourself and prevent misunderstandings.

Elliebabe, the Caregivers are probably waiting for directions on what to do. Who has the power to do this?

I don't know what your arrangement or contract is with the home care workers, but if her money is tight, you might need to save the funds for when she actually must have their services. Are they privately retained or with an agency? You might read the paperwork and see what is required.

When my loved one was in the hospital with delusions, they bathed her, took her to the bathroom, etc. I stayed during the day and helped too. How are they helping if they are downstairs and not seeing her?

Someone who is familiar with Medicare might give some advice on when she would qualify for some at home help once she's released from the hospital. Depending on her condition, she may receive some benefit.

If they stay home, should they still be paid the 250 a day?

No they aren't. They are downstairs waiting, but it's not their fault, she is hallucinating and thinks they are harming her.

If the Caregivers are at the hospital, they wouldn't be *hanging out*, they will be helping with the care.... feeding, bathroom stops, helping her walk [if she still can], talking to her, making sure she is comfortable, a familiar face in a crowd of new people at the hospital, etc. Thus, they should be getting the same pay, no matter if they are caring for your Mom at home or at the hospital.