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Thanks to all for your advice. I hate taking anything from my dad but I have given up a part-time job to care for him. And I would never expect to be paid what a professional facility would cost. I know the reality is that he will likely need to go to a nursing home at some point but we're not there yet. I want to keep him at home as long as possible and spend the best days he has left with him.
All of the answers so far are great. You have gotten excellent advice. The only thing I want to add is that one person cannot care for another 24/7. Should you choose to go through with it, you must build in respite care for yourself every day so that you can sleep. You also need time off every week. Is there enough money for that? All the care your dad will need will be shockingly expensive.
In addition to the article and sample Caregiver Agreement posted here on AgingCare.com, talk with an Elder Law Attorney in your state. The Attorney should be up to date on the rate of compensation accepted by your State's Medicaid Agency, so that your father won't be disqualified from Medicaid if he needs if in the future. The Attorney should also be able to help your father to qualify for Medicaid home care programs available in your State.
See an elder care attorney. If it's even a possibility that he may need Medicaid to pay for nursing care sometime in the future, you want to ensure that this is done properly now. Otherwise, he might be denied timely Medicaid services in the future
Evans7, see an attorney. The person who wants to hire you is incompetent and as a POA you cannot hire yourself. Nor would you want to. No single person can do what you are contemplating.
Evans7, that is great that your Dad would like to pay you for his care, that is unusual. Yes, you would need a caregivers employment contract, stating what are your duties, how many hours per week, what is your hourly salary, any days off, etc. The tough part, who would fill in for you on your days off?
With Alzheimer's, as you probably already know, it never gets better, only worse. So you need to talk to Dad that if your caregiving becomes too overwhelming, would he allow professional caregivers from an Agency to come in to help, or would he prefer to move to Assisted Living/Memory Care. Take Dad around to some of the places to give him an idea for the future. Now, these are Assisted Living, not nursing homes. If Dad can budget that.
Since I couldn't do hands-on caregiving being I was a senior myself, my Dad hired around the clock care. It cost him $20k per month. Yikes !! Later Dad wanted something less costly, so he moved into Independent Living which was around $5k per month. then moved to Memory Care which was closer to $6k per month. All Dad wanted was a place to sleep and good meals. He loved the food there, plus he had housekeeping and linen services as part of the rent.
What to pay? Get a geriatric care manager to complete a needs and ability assessment of dad, then prepare an estimate of what cost of outside care would be. You would then be able to prepare a contract and pay yourself something comparable/fair. Get an attorney to prepare the contract, make sure you have a letter from dad's doc to document the level of care he needs and what type of care would be the best for him.
As POA you should have a clear picture of his net worth and his income, you should also do some research on the cost of assisted living or nursing homes in your area and the cost of outside caregivers brought into his home. Once you have all the facts you can decide what you consider to be "fair", and that is usually well below what he would have to pay an outsider. As Katie mentions there are complications to this plan that must also be considered, beyond those she mentioned are there sibs who will objects or believe you are freeloading off your father? Is his home practical for his physical needs both today and in the future? What plans do you have for help so that you get respite? And as I learned, sometimes despite our plans and good intentions we can not see it through until the end and he may have to spend some time in the NH, have you planned an exit strategy?
Unless your dad is quite wealthy, he really cannot afford to pay you what it is worth. An agency would get $20 per hour, plus shift differential for 2nd shift, and again for 3rd
You must get a written agreement, and taxes must be withheld...so get a payroll service to process all this.
Now, there is a huge issue...since your Dad has Alzheimer's...he is likely not capable to sign any contract. You could be putting yourself in a world of hurt. If there is no POA...you could be accused of financial abuse of an elder. You could be causing your Dad to not qualify for Medicaid in the future (5 year look back on all expenditure). If you are the POA....you cannot sign this contract for your Dad....you cannot sign a contract as POA if you would gain from the contract.
So...lots of issues.
Most caregivers are paid little to nothing. Because of all these triangles...and the very high cost of actually paying anything close to what it is worth
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.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/personal-care-agreements-compensate-family-caregivers-181562.htm
With Alzheimer's, as you probably already know, it never gets better, only worse. So you need to talk to Dad that if your caregiving becomes too overwhelming, would he allow professional caregivers from an Agency to come in to help, or would he prefer to move to Assisted Living/Memory Care. Take Dad around to some of the places to give him an idea for the future. Now, these are Assisted Living, not nursing homes. If Dad can budget that.
Since I couldn't do hands-on caregiving being I was a senior myself, my Dad hired around the clock care. It cost him $20k per month. Yikes !! Later Dad wanted something less costly, so he moved into Independent Living which was around $5k per month. then moved to Memory Care which was closer to $6k per month. All Dad wanted was a place to sleep and good meals. He loved the food there, plus he had housekeeping and linen services as part of the rent.
Something to think about for the future needs.
As Katie mentions there are complications to this plan that must also be considered, beyond those she mentioned are there sibs who will objects or believe you are freeloading off your father? Is his home practical for his physical needs both today and in the future? What plans do you have for help so that you get respite? And as I learned, sometimes despite our plans and good intentions we can not see it through until the end and he may have to spend some time in the NH, have you planned an exit strategy?
You must get a written agreement, and taxes must be withheld...so get a payroll service to process all this.
Now, there is a huge issue...since your Dad has Alzheimer's...he is likely not capable to sign any contract. You could be putting yourself in a world of hurt. If there is no POA...you could be accused of financial abuse of an elder. You could be causing your Dad to not qualify for Medicaid in the future (5 year look back on all expenditure). If you are the POA....you cannot sign this contract for your Dad....you cannot sign a contract as POA if you would gain from the contract.
So...lots of issues.
Most caregivers are paid little to nothing. Because of all these triangles...and the very high cost of actually paying anything close to what it is worth