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Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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Maddydee23, welcome to the forum. When it comes to an independent live-in caregiver there are many things to consider.
You would need to do a background check on this person. Plus make sure they are up-to-date on their flu and covid shots. And that you are up-to-date on all the required shots recommended by your primary doctor.
You would need to do the payroll, take out necessary payroll taxes. Plus supply a W2 or 1099 for income taxes to the caregiver. Or you could hire a payroll company to do that work. Would you pay double time for holidays? Or does the caregiver get that holiday off? What about vacation days off?
You would need to draw up an employment contract stating the number of hours the caregiver would be working, the duties, and what days they would have off. You may want to consider two caregivers, one for the weekends who comes in during the day. Here's a sample: https://cdn-care.com/media/cms/pdf/adult-and-senior-care-contract-caredotcom.pdf Also check regarding labor laws in your State.
You would need to contact your home insurance carrier as you would need to obtain a workman's comp policy since you would now be the "employer", in case your employee gets hurt at home.
Put in the contract about Social Media, that the caregiver cannot share any photos of you or pictures of your house, etc. Nor any personal information about you.
When my Dad needed someone to help him, he hired 3-shifts of caregivers through an Agency, the caregivers were already vetted and experienced. Plus the caregivers would go home to get a good night's sleep so they would be ready for their next shift. And if one could not make their shift, the Agency quickly found someone else to fill that shift. The Agency did all the payroll work, plus the Agency was licensed, bonded and insured. Yes, it was expensive doing this, but well worth the cost.
Later Dad found it would be less expensive if he sold his house and moved into senior living where he had a nice 2 bedroom apartment with a full size kitchen and large living room [Independent Living].
I have never done this. I understand it is SO MUCH less expensive, but if I didn't actually KNOW the persons I was hiring, I am afraid as an elder I would be afraid to do this. When you bring a caregiver into your home they not only have access to your things, but they have access to your identity information. I guess in this day and age there is some way to check into peoples' legal history, convictions, but I sure wouldn't know how to negotiate them. I don't know how much checking and vetting is done by your average agency, but you can ask. I worry also about being responsible for someone claiming that they injured themselves by caring for me, or that I didn't pay their hours correctly, or that I should pay them under the table without the IRS knowing it, or or or or............. Just so much stuff. So basically I would suggest if you intend to do this that you take your questions to an elder law attorney, who can answer them all from an expert's point of view. I do know THAT costs money, as well, but I would be too chicken not to try to protect myself. What if you hire someone and they come to your home and injure themselves, making claims on your insurance? Do you have a good umbrella policy to defend yourself? Just things to think about and I hope if you come to a good way to do this you come back and let us know.
I was able to set up a live-in caregiver with the assistance of an attorney who drew up the contract. It was costly and timely, with multiple revisions and negotiations, but well worth it. The lawyer had access to real estate law advice specific to my state so the caregiver is not a tenant.
I use the website homepay through care.com which handles the W2 and taxes so I just write the checks.
I had to do a lot of research on my own regarding the other items that people listed on this forum- homeowners insurance, liability insurance, background check etc.
We were very fortunate that we knew the caregiver as a daytime employee before making the transition to live-in. I have an agency on the weekend who provides “time off” for the live-in caregiver. My mom has fortunately flourished being back in her own home and the live-in caregiver is able to motivate my mom more than I could while she was living with me.
I visit almost daily, grocery shop for specialty items, have all the mail and bills forwarded to me and handle all medications. I also take my mom to doctor’s appointments and the caregiver accompanies so the set up remains a big commitment, but the hourly responsibilities decreased and gave me my life back.
One person by themselves cannot provide 168 hours of care a week. Your candidates will have nowhere else to live so their mail will come to your door. Now you have a tenant who won’t have to pay rent or perform services for months until being. Evicted.
Hire privately and pay privately. Always hire more than one and have them split the week. This way everyone gets time off and the client's home is not anyone's actual residence. Do not allow your caregivers to receive mail at the client's house either. It can be up to the caregivers you hire to take out their own taxes if they're operating as an independent contractors. If you make an arrangement that part of the wages will be paid in the form of room and board, then you will have to allw the caregiver to make the client's home their official address and you should never do that. You can make up a contract on your own that is signed by your caregivers, and witnesses, and that is notorized. You don't have to hire a lawyer to do this for you. Of course you can if it makes you more comfortable. I worked a round-the-clock care position years back with another caregiver. We split the week. We were responsible for filing our own taxes. The employer did nothing for us and it was perfectly legal.
Brilliant advice as usual! I have myself & another part-time caregiver currently & have been trying to hire another caregiver to complete the operation in caring for my father. My goal is to keep him out of a facility for as long as possible. When working with an agency I was quoted $40 plus per hour. These same agencies had job vacancy postings offering a wage of just $17to$18 per hour. So I’ve been offering between $23 to $30 to start depending on experience. My recruitment tactics for my vacant position are becoming increasingly creative though. I think I’ve exhausted the local church circuit so I’ve been looking for an in-person caregiver support group- kill 2 birds with one stone. Fingers crossed.
You will be the person's employer and landlord. Unless you're ready to take on all that responsibility, don't do it and go with a-la-carte in-home helpers. For example, a housekeeper can not only clean house, do laundry, make beds, etc. but some also will accept extra work like going grocery shopping and preparing meals. And you don't need to worry about them being your employee and tenant. In my personal opinion - and this is from years of watching my FIL's two aides - they aren't worth the trouble if they were also living with him.
as freqflyer stated... you are now the employer you will be in charge of taxes, contracts, days off, sick time, finding replacements, and all the legal items. This will be a job for you.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
You would need to do a background check on this person. Plus make sure they are up-to-date on their flu and covid shots. And that you are up-to-date on all the required shots recommended by your primary doctor.
You would need to do the payroll, take out necessary payroll taxes. Plus supply a W2 or 1099 for income taxes to the caregiver. Or you could hire a payroll company to do that work. Would you pay double time for holidays? Or does the caregiver get that holiday off? What about vacation days off?
You would need to draw up an employment contract stating the number of hours the caregiver would be working, the duties, and what days they would have off. You may want to consider two caregivers, one for the weekends who comes in during the day. Here's a sample: https://cdn-care.com/media/cms/pdf/adult-and-senior-care-contract-caredotcom.pdf Also check regarding labor laws in your State.
You would need to contact your home insurance carrier as you would need to obtain a workman's comp policy since you would now be the "employer", in case your employee gets hurt at home.
Put in the contract about Social Media, that the caregiver cannot share any photos of you or pictures of your house, etc. Nor any personal information about you.
When my Dad needed someone to help him, he hired 3-shifts of caregivers through an Agency, the caregivers were already vetted and experienced. Plus the caregivers would go home to get a good night's sleep so they would be ready for their next shift. And if one could not make their shift, the Agency quickly found someone else to fill that shift. The Agency did all the payroll work, plus the Agency was licensed, bonded and insured. Yes, it was expensive doing this, but well worth the cost.
Later Dad found it would be less expensive if he sold his house and moved into senior living where he had a nice 2 bedroom apartment with a full size kitchen and large living room [Independent Living].
I worry also about being responsible for someone claiming that they injured themselves by caring for me, or that I didn't pay their hours correctly, or that I should pay them under the table without the IRS knowing it, or or or or............. Just so much stuff.
So basically I would suggest if you intend to do this that you take your questions to an elder law attorney, who can answer them all from an expert's point of view. I do know THAT costs money, as well, but I would be too chicken not to try to protect myself. What if you hire someone and they come to your home and injure themselves, making claims on your insurance? Do you have a good umbrella policy to defend yourself?
Just things to think about and I hope if you come to a good way to do this you come back and let us know.
I use the website homepay through care.com which handles the W2 and taxes so I just write the checks.
I had to do a lot of research on my own regarding the other items that people listed on this forum- homeowners insurance, liability insurance, background check etc.
We were very fortunate that we knew the caregiver as a daytime employee before making the transition to live-in. I have an agency on the weekend who provides “time off” for the live-in caregiver. My mom has fortunately flourished being back in her own home and the live-in caregiver is able to motivate my mom more than I could while she was living with me.
I visit almost daily, grocery shop for specialty items, have all the mail and bills forwarded to me and handle all medications. I also take my mom to doctor’s appointments and the caregiver accompanies so the set up remains a big commitment, but the hourly responsibilities decreased and gave me my life back.
It can be up to the caregivers you hire to take out their own taxes if they're operating as an independent contractors. If you make an arrangement that part of the wages will be paid in the form of room and board, then you will have to allw the caregiver to make the client's home their official address and you should never do that.
You can make up a contract on your own that is signed by your caregivers, and witnesses, and that is notorized. You don't have to hire a lawyer to do this for you.
Of course you can if it makes you more comfortable.
I worked a round-the-clock care position years back with another caregiver. We split the week. We were responsible for filing our own taxes. The employer did nothing for us and it was perfectly legal.
I have myself & another part-time caregiver currently & have been trying to hire another caregiver to complete the operation in caring for my father.
My goal is to keep him out of a facility for as long as possible.
When working with an agency I was quoted $40 plus per hour. These same agencies had job vacancy postings offering a wage of just $17to$18 per hour. So I’ve been offering between $23 to $30 to start depending on experience.
My recruitment tactics for my vacant position are becoming increasingly creative though. I think I’ve exhausted the local church circuit so I’ve been looking for an in-person caregiver support group- kill 2 birds with one stone. Fingers crossed.
Stick around for more answers from other posters.
Good luck!
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