Do you want to be her caregiver? I would not do this for all the money in the world. The needing help with day to day needs is what stuck out for me. Does this woman have family? If so, call them and tell them Mom needs help. If they are not willing to help her, then call APS and ask to have the lady's situation evaluated. Maybe they can find resourses for her. Your County Office of Aging usually;has busses that take people to appts and shopping. There may be other resourses she can take advantage of.
If she can't pay you, at least, for gas, then maybe she can't pay you for other care she needs. There are very few ways to get compensated if a person has no money.
My mmntra "I am here to show people the way, not be the way".
If this is something you want to get involved in but don't want to get taken advantage of, set yourself up as a business, and run it like a business. Decide what you will do, what hours you will work, and how much you will be paid. Your time is valuable. A woman I know drives for elders. Her fee is $30/hr, and she has a 2 hour minimum. That's on the high side, but she doesn't want to be running herself ragged. She has a manageable number of clients who are happy to pay.
How will your neighbor pay you for the many hours on the phone to arrange these shopping trips and day-to-day needs?
When your neighbor follows you home, or appears at your door, staying for hours, (called "Shadowing"), how will you charge her for these "neighborly" visits?
When your neighbor starts dialing your phone all night long and you don't want to answer or be on-call 24/7, how will you get paid for that?
When your neighbor locks herself out of the house, you may have a key, and will be expected to come to her rescue. How much money does that cost?
When your neighbor wants to borrow some medication-she is out-what are you charging the second, third time she does this?
When your neighbor shares your shortcomings with other neighbors, what is the cost of being slandered and gossipped about?
My point is that if you want to be a paid caregiver, doing it for a neighbor has it's downsides. You will be fully invested in her life, her needs at her whims. Maybe help someone who is not a neighbor?
Maybe you can help her by finding care for her. Do not try to do this as the only caregiver.
Lending a hand to carry a heavy bag of groceries inside for a neighbour.... one step in.. then a slide down the slippery slope of needs. Arriving at neighbour expecting on-call service: meds delivered, then biscuits, then any wishes & whims.
You ask your neighbor to pay you for helping her out. You could do this as hourly. Figure out what the going rate is in your area and she pays you that. As far as driving her she can pay you what the IRS allows as transportation reimbursement. If she has to document that she paid for your services it would be best to have a contract. This may be important if she ever has to apply for Medicaid or if someone thinks you're "taking advantage" of her.
You could check with the Senior Services in your area and see if she qualifies for any assistance.
If she can't pay you, at least, for gas, then maybe she can't pay you for other care she needs. There are very few ways to get compensated if a person has no money.
My mmntra "I am here to show people the way, not be the way".
A woman I know drives for elders. Her fee is $30/hr, and she has a 2 hour minimum. That's on the high side, but she doesn't want to be running herself ragged. She has a manageable number of clients who are happy to pay.
When your neighbor follows you home, or appears at your door, staying for hours, (called "Shadowing"), how will you charge her for these "neighborly" visits?
When your neighbor starts dialing your phone all night long and you don't want to answer or be on-call 24/7, how will you get paid for that?
When your neighbor locks herself out of the house, you may have a key, and will be expected to come to her rescue. How much money does that cost?
When your neighbor wants to borrow some medication-she is out-what are you charging the second, third time she does this?
When your neighbor shares your shortcomings with other neighbors, what is the cost of being slandered and gossipped about?
My point is that if you want to be a paid caregiver, doing it for a neighbor has
it's downsides. You will be fully invested in her life, her needs at her whims.
Maybe help someone who is not a neighbor?
Maybe you can help her by finding care for her.
Do not try to do this as the only caregiver.
Lending a hand to carry a heavy bag of groceries inside for a neighbour.... one step in.. then a slide down the slippery slope of needs. Arriving at neighbour expecting on-call service: meds delivered, then biscuits, then any wishes & whims.
Step carefully.
You could do this as hourly. Figure out what the going rate is in your area and she pays you that. As far as driving her she can pay you what the IRS allows as transportation reimbursement.
If she has to document that she paid for your services it would be best to have a contract. This may be important if she ever has to apply for Medicaid or if someone thinks you're "taking advantage" of her.
You could check with the Senior Services in your area and see if she qualifies for any assistance.