My grandmother moved in with a person who takes care of the elderly in her own home. I don't know how much to pay her, we've been giving her $1700/month plus some medication and special diet re-imbursement. She says she is being drastically underpaid, and is demanding that her brother (who lives in my Grandmother's house) be allowed to live rent free with all bills paid. That seems like too much. They live in New Hampshire. Does anyone know what a person who does this should actually be getting paid??
I would be real cautious
My question, why is the caregiver's brother living in Grandmother's house? Something doesn't sound right.
Do you have a written contract with this woman?
The rest, with the caregiver's family member living in Grandma's home sounds bogus, and expenses, billing, and contracts need to be clear-as financial poa you need to approve. I would make it a clear-cut arrangement wherein Grandma's home should be sold to pay for her care. And a background check on these people 'helping' should be done, starting with finding a dba or business license on file.
Still, stranger deals have been made. Only scam artists, however, demand more and more money after the move has been made. imo. imo. imo.
Could be the most kind hearted caregiver you will ever find. It would be a miracle if her family member was keeping up Grandma's house equally for free room and board, but it is more likely you will find many elder's homes have come under the ownership over the years in these people's names, or their realtor's, with proceeds of home sales and life insurance policies ending up on their side of the ledger.
Did they not know about you???? POA
I say the pay sounds competitive and fair and the caregiver's bro living at grandmother's house is a bad idea. It shouldn't be a "package deal." Caregiver's bro can pay fair market rent for the place or (preferably) you rent to someone else.
If grandmother can't go back there to live on her own, why not look at selling it?
Or another option is to find a caregiver willing to stay with grandma in her own home.
Any way you make the deal, the important thing is trust. If you made a deal and now caregiver person is changing the deal and asking for substantially more compensation, that's a deal-breaker and a trust-breaker. Isn't it?
How did this evolve in the first place that he's living in your GM's house?
I can't help wondering if your GM is being manipulated by the caregiver and you need to step in.
As to the $1700, it depends on what she does for your GM. I assume you don't have a contract, so I would also suggest that you either find one online or see an elder law attorney to have one prepared.
I have the feeling that this caregiver is a manipulator and advising her son needs free rent is only the beginning.