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An elder lady wth several servere health problems has a caregiver, can they live with her legally?

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You would need to check your state's employment laws on live-in domestic workers for requirements on pay, number of hours a week of work and rest, overtime pay, etc. Plus paying employer and employee share of taxes.
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Reply to MG8522
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If she owns her own home, she can allow anyone she chooses to live there.

A live-in caregiver would live rent-free and be paid an agreed upon wage for services per a written signed agreement (contract). The agreement should specify working hours, days and times off, a plan for care during the caregiver's time off, any house rules that are important to the homeowner such as food, cooking, use of common area space, respect for privacy, etc.
Make it clear that the caregiver is to move out within xx days of the end of their assignment, whether they are dismissed, or when the patient is moved to a care facility, or dies.
I've seen too many episodes of "Squatters" and wouldn't trust any strangers in your home.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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LuckyCharm0223 Aug 8, 2026
All of this. I've worked mainly facilities, and taken care of family, and I have had to essentially pay another family member to get out, and it took awhile! So, even with family members, if they are there for the right reasons, they should absolutely be on a contract of some sort.
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Bogheart61, welcome to the forum. Yes, a caregiver can live in the same home as the person who need help. Usually no rent is paid, but the caregiver would need to be paid a working wage. And the caregiver would need to set the hours that she will work, and would need two days off according to the State laws.

Since the elder lady has several severe health problems, chances are she may need 3 full-time caregivers per day, but that could became extremely costly (my Dad was paying $20,000 per month for such care a decade ago).
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Reply to freqflyer
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Yes, if she has the mental capacity to make such a decision for herself. But maybe it also depends upon where she lives... is she in her own house in a community where this is permitted? Sometimes 55+ senior communities or an HOA have rules that don't allow it.

Can you provide more details? What are your concerns about this arrangement?
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