Thoughts on pay for a live-in caregiver providing 7 nights a week and four 12 hour shifts a week? My mom sleeps through the night for 12 hours and has moderate dementia.
She will have every Fri-Sun days off and one full weekend off (including nights) a month.
I plan on using homepay payroll and providing a W2. I’ve consulted with the accountant who states a W2 employee costs 9% more than a 1099.
Does anyone else offer sick time and vacation time? If so, how much? Do you let them cash it in if they don’t use it?
Rent and utilities plan to be covered.
Agencies in my area charge $29 per hour (rural Maryland). Before Covid for direct pay I started at $18 per hour. Now for direct pay I start at $25 per hour. I have two caregivers making $31 per hour but they have been with us about 10 years.
I found in this line of work you want to pay well. People will quit to get an extra $1 per hour.
Have good cable tv and internet in your house. I don't watch tv but the caregivers enjoy it.
I have one shift covered by an agency worker. She has been with us about 3 years.
I find it better to have more people working fewer hours. If you are short caregivers, they get burned out.
Almost all of my caregivers are working other jobs and some work two other jobs.
We also give a large Christmas/holiday bonus.
We start at $25 per hour. This is in a rural part of Maryland.
We pay legal--as W2 employees.
We have workers comp/social security.
We pay 1.5 (time and a half on about 6 holidays.)
Caregivers accrue paid vacation time they can use the next year. This is a formula based upon hours they work.
We also provide some free food....snacks etc.
Much advice thru this forum warns against caregivers being employers. But my research into this makes home care agency costs out of reach. I am writing because I am 82 and healthy but am trying to plan for my care when it’s needed.
another thing I did was offer time and a half for four major holidays so that I could get a break and have some time with my family.
I believe it was Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving eve, Thanksgiving day, Fourth of July day & evening. I offered four pay rates increasing incrementally rather quickly. Now granted this was years ago, but $10 an hour for the first day for the first four hours - I considered it training to see their skills in listening performing and getting along with me & the couple. Then immediately it went to $13 an hour for two weeks, $14 an hour for the next month and then $15 an hour there after and it stayed. All these were for the sake of trying to save money and make sure I had a caregiver that was a good fit.
100% agree with others here -one person being responsible for all those hours - they’re gonna get burnt out after a few months. Think about back up because sickness and things happen.
Also you must get nanny cams. And check them periodically especially when they’re new to see what their attitude and care level is and make them keep logs of everything that they do. I saved all my forms if you’re interested.
Yes, It is more difficult to manage a team of caregivers; there is greater chance for a "failure" to occur related to shift changes which creates a good deal of anxiety. I was able to find a placement agency that added only 10% to the wages of the caregivers. Being in the Midwest, this meant a total hourly wage of about $24/hour. IF someone didn't show up, I usually - but not 100% - could get coverage through the agency. The problem with this, however, was that my sister might not have known the substitute and vice-versa...and the subs weren't trained "my way."
I think that when you opt for home care, you have to realize that, just as with kids, the buck ultimately stops with you. It was stressful at times, but I was willing to assume this role and have absolutely no regrets. My sister passed away just a year ago from seizures associated with her Alzheimers.
Wishing you peace of mind as you begin this journey.
That being said 132 hours a week is 3 times as many hours as most people work. And burn-out will come soon IF you can find someone to do it.
I suggest you look for a team, as someone else suggested. No one person can do what your expecting and if your mom has mild dementia it will get worse, usually pretty fast. So having 2 people, maybe even 3 would be best.
I think 1099 is the best and easiest way to do this. It gives scheduling flexibility and saves you tons of red tape and paperwork. And usually caregivers prefer this way. They can write off mileage when she needs to travel [around town] and scrubs and keeping vaccines up to date.
Most of the people on thi forum, including me, have been caregivers 24/7 and know how hard it is do spend that many hours without relief. Good luck. I know you’ll do what’s best for everyone.
When grandmother needed more help - with ADLs, and eventually 24/7, my dad hired three care providers and named the one with the best qualifications the manager. She was to create a schedule, create a grocery list and meal plan, do the shopping and report back with any problems. The manager earned a higher wage per hour. Each generally worked an average of 8 hours per 24-hour period. When one needed time off, she was responsible for swapping shifts or covering hours with one of the others. The care providers liked the freedom and flexibility, the pay and preferred the one-on-one in-home care over working in a care facility. After grandma passed away, they all maintained close friendships.
This worked beautifully. My parents were elderly with their own health problems and this set up enabled them to have quality time with Grandma and keep her in her home. There may have been a personnel change or two over the years.
The rate was established by contacting agencies in their market about rates and then negotiating to pay more than half based on skills (many care providers would earn half what the agency charges).
Background checks and personal references were conducted for all and they were paid through payroll. Insurance companies were contacted to ensure coverage in case of injury on the property/on the job.
No vacation pay or health insurance benefits were provided, but covering time off was cooperative among the three. Free food was provided during a shift (home cooked— and grandma would have companionship during meals).
Since all elders slept well during the night cameras were installed to monitor. Alerts would notify of action in the homes. Of course if wandering began or someone did not feel well a caregiver was found to spent the night.
I would be hesitant to employee one live in caregiver.
I think you should definitely offer vacation and sick pay. I would not let a caregiver that is working that many hours NOT take the vacation time off. I would even allow them to use sick days for breaks.
This type of schedule can burn the hardiest person to a nub in no time. I would consider finding someone to work 3 full days, around the clock every week, have this person for 4 full days and nobody lives in, they just stay there while on duty.
That is just my opinion because I think counting on one person for too much is not a wise move. Especially, a paid employee.
Could you explain "She will have every Fri-Sun days off and one full weekend off (including nights) a month". Sorry, I can't figure this out :(
If you haven't already, have an Employment Contract drawn up staying the number of hours each week, the duties required, and the hourly rate.
As for pay, sounds like you are hiring private instead of going through an Agency. Be sure to vet the person carefully, and make sure she has her flu and covid shots. Pay would be whatever is common where your live. If you live in a large metro area, the hourly rate would be much higher. Usually the pay is whatever the caregiver and you agree upon.
Hope you find someone that both you and especially your Mother enjoy having around the house.
Oh, I just remembered, check with your Mom's household insurance carrier regarding "workman's comp" policy which is used in case the caregiver should get injured on the job.
Great info about worker's comp policy. Insurance companies are starting to exclude caregivers from the homeowners insurance.