I recently made a caregiver agreement with mom’s lawyer to get paid for what I do for my mom. Papers must be filled out weekly. I have seen some, but most included only personal care. I spend hours doing banking, taxes, insurance, cleaning out her other house, and more laundry than I’ve ever seen. For $15 an hour. Less than I pay for caregivers. PLEASE don’t respond to say I should do this for free...I’m working my butt off. My mom is full care. Why wouldn’t I get paid? To save an inheritance for my siblings who do nothing? It’s a far cry from what I made as an RN more than $30 less and I got vacation, holidays and sick days at my last job.
Step Two: plot those hours on a timetable, and then give the tasks category headings - bookkeeping, admin, facilities management, laundry, personal care, etc. - and then look at the market rate for the services applicable in each category. This is to compare what your mother would have to pay for external, commissioned services with what it will cost her if you do them.
Then design a pro forma time sheet, fill it in week by week, and away you go.
Who said you should do this for free? For your mother's lawyer to be organising it, your mother *herself* can't have thought you should; and if it's okay by her...
After you assess going rates for services to get an idea, as suggested so well by Countrymouse, this is a valuable tool: https://ac-cdn.azureedge.net/resources/Content/www/eBook/AgingCare-CarePlanGuide.pdf. The Daily Care Plan Template that you asked about begins on p. 12. Lots of other helpful assessments and charts are included.
I have also used A Personal Care Agreement as a guide: https://www.agingcare.com/documents/personal_care_agreement_agingcare.pdf. Such a document will safeguard you from and clarify for your un-involved siblings.
Good Luck!
Loving,
How nice of you to send that link. Truly helpful. Thanks for your kindness.
Or you can do timesheets that have fillable areas to show from 7am to 9am personal care
9am to 11am dr appt
12pm to 2pm moms laundry
I think trying to micromanage your hours spent on specific tasks might be to time consuming. Keeping track of general jobs, ie personal care, financial care, transportation, etc. Will be more manageable and less time consuming. You don't want to set a precedent with the attorney that shows, 15 minutes in am for brief change, 20 minutes to doctor's office, 30 minutes for appointment that will drive you batty, but they will expect it if you ever once provide it.
As I like to say, keep it simple I'm stupid. I do believe there is power in simplicity. You are providing clear concise information, if need be do a sheet that specifically describes personal care, transportation, financial etc. Provide that with your first week and put a note on whatever you provide that description of activities is available upon request. If you are emailing you could make it an attachment.
Best of luck and I say good for you getting paid, if you weren't doing it someone would be and getting paid for it. It also helps to know the absent sibs won't benefit financially from all your hard work.
I think maybe I should get more, though, because I know how to fill a dishwasher, unlike the aide who was sent to help! :-)
I am getting $20/hr. with no caregiving contract.
That rate of $15/hour seems too low. Did the atty tell you this had to be the rate? I'd ask him why outside caregivers get so much more. And why can't respite care be paid for by your mother, also?
It is not unreasonable to get a caregiver's contract.
Remember to see a tax lawyer. You can set up a "corporation" for more tax breaks.
An Elder Lawyer will know exactly how to calculate what you can rightfully charge your loved one. We are in Florida and since Mom lived with me and my husband and I took full care of her at the time, we wrote a Service Care Agreement. The lawyer used the following figures (2.5 years ago) in order to derive the correct amount for me:
- Court-appointed guardians, who render services in this country, generally receive $40.00 to $80.00 per hour per Court Order.
- Professional geriatric care managers typically receive $100.00 to $150.00 per hour for performance of their services.
- Nurses’ aides receive $18.00 to $22.00 per hour for performance of their services.
Thus, since the various services required by Mom are the services provided by guardians, professional care managers, nurses’ aides, drivers and companions, a blended rate of $35 was appropriate in my case.
I need to NOTE that this agreement was not used for a continual hourly payment, but for a basis for a Service Contract Agreement. Yet, I hope this overview helps you.
I suggested $20/hr that I would be paid. Two of my brothers independently came up with the same number. No taxes are taken out, though. It's all a "gift."
I feel your pain and I feel you should ask for more. I made the same agreement for $15 an hour I earn over $30 an hour when I do work so to me this is like me giving away money. I actually want all my money from him NOW! The love I felt for him when he lived in NY is not there anymore...especially seeing that this man did not take care of my sister and I like he did the half sister. I just cannot get past how he has LIED to me several times and he thinks I am so stupid.
Do you know for sure that he actually put in his will that you are to be compensated for caregiving? Amd how about the thousands you spent moving him to FL?
Why do you have to wait? Why can't you be compensated now? One of my brothers wanted to wait until my mother's trust was settled before I got my compensation for taking care of our mother. No way! The trust says all is split equally four ways between my 3 brothers and me. Anyone who disagrees gets nothing!
So I'm getting paid by the month now, and just got a back pay check for the previous two years from the brother who is handling my mother's money. It is considered a "gift" so no taxes involved.
When the trust is settled, it will be distributed equally four ways.
My mother would have a fit if she knew I'm getting this money. "You don't pay family!" She told me. Well, you also don't expect one person to do it all, either. She told me I didn't do anything for her, my time wasnt worth anything, etc.
My brothers know what she was like, and none of them wanted to move her near them. So I get paid now.
Also track your mileage by writing the start/end number on the odometer and task e.g. 57250-57550 cardiologist. 58300-58402 grocery shopping or name of store.
A weekly planner that is small enough to fit into your purse/handbag is ideal. It's portable and, at the end of the week, you probably can scan the week and attach it to the papers you need to fill out. Ask about doing this and keeping it simple.
If he doesn't have money, there may be something with Medicaid via the state. Check it out. There is also a veterans benefit called aid and attendance (low income/assets). Contact you state rep/ senator for help. Good luck Pete , and don't expect a thank you, it's not happening.
I have only been taking care of my mother for the last 3.5 and that’s all my family and I do. So I totally understand for wanting to get paid especially in your situation where other siblings aren’t helping.
?
My 95 yo mother moved in last April 2018.
It was difficult from the beginning but steadily worst. Her mind is great at times and at others she just sleeps.
Caregivers cost so much that her reserve will be gone in another year.
Should I be documenting everything?
In FL. K
If you ever want to get Medicaid for your LO, these 'gifts' will count against the funds she will receive as Medicaid looks back 5 years of expenses. Best is to create a Service Contract Agreement with an Elder Lawyer so that you are actually being PAID for the service.
Good luck!
my heart goes out to you for stopping your career and taking on taking care of your mother. You are a good daughter and deserve everything.
it is not an easy task. I hope she is good to you and appreciates all that you do. I did not read all the answers but wanted to tell you you are of a kind.