Mom (91) has moved in with me. I will soon be leaving my job to care for her full time and the 3 of us (me, mom and husband) will be moving to Florida. I will be her full time care giver. Can a Personal Care Agreement be written up for me to be paid for her care? If we have one in place can I also hire someone for a few hours a week to give me a break rather than 24/7 care from me?
I know it's your Mom but if you were paid a minimum of $10 an hour that equals $1680 a week, $6720 a month. That is what I pay for my mother's memory care facility where the employees work 8 hour days.
We don’t know your mother's mental or physical status but have you considered what your life is going to be like if she has a decline, can’t be left alone, is a fall risk but insists on getting out of bed at night? I suggest you start lining up in-home help ASAP.
And Kudos for wanting your Mom to live with you. I know I couldn’t do it, my Mom and I are very different people.
Write all your questions down with any additional concerns that you may have. Ask a professional to receive the most proficient answer.
Best wishes to you.
The lawyer suggested we have an independent “needs assessment” done. How I wish I had insisted on this before I gave up my career to come to provide 24/7 care that isn’t really needed!
Certainly a GREAT idea to go into this informed by facts and not emotion/assumptions/obligation.
I don't think that it is ever a good decision to leave ones own career to help a parent, it has to many long term consequences. If they need 24/7 they need to be in a facility.
If your mother is able to sign a agreement with a lawyer stamped and notarized, then your mother can reimbursed you for taking care of her. If she has Alzheimer's dementia, or other health conditions that effects her ability to decide, then you need to have Durable Power Of Attorney to make financial discussions for her. You can contact a elderly court lawyer they will have better ideas, and changes that will fit your situation.
Both Sign It and ya'll can even have it notarized at your Bank for Free.
So in your opinion should she have everything set up in one contract, such as one caregiver contract that specifies rent to be included or are there any advantages to having separate contracts of each, the caregiver and a rental agreement?
I am just so happy that she is taking care of this now. She’s smart!
A personal care contract will be taxable to you, but unavoidable if you want to be sure that she would qualify for Medicaid if it was ever required.
Make sure that she is paying her way in full, all groceries, supplies, insurance, property taxes, vehicle expenses, utilities, mortgage or rent, home maintenance, lawn service, housekeeper, everything is legitimate for share of costs and you can charge her more if she has specific equipment needed that increases your utilities, that expense can be hers 100%.
A good attorney will be able to help you set this up legally and word it to cross state lines.
I didn’t even have a written contract with my mom. It was a casual verbal agreement years after living with us which she paid a very small contribution to our household. I would do it differently if I could turn back time.
You are being smart facing this now! I let my emotions get the best of me early on. I had a complicated situation.
I commend you on doing this. I did not do it in the beginning and it is harder to establish later.
I would at least discuss it now so there will not be any questions six months from now.
Of course, take breaks. No one can be there for someone 24/7. Discuss everything so there are no surprises later on.
Best wishes to you.
Someone on the Forum has mentioned that its easier to charge the person rent then to be paid as a caregiver. That too will need an agreement.