24 hours live-in care and night calls. What are my rights?

I see both sides of this. An elderly person typically sleeps throughout the day, and while I know first hand how tough a job it is, unless you are also doing heavy housekeeping, you have down time. I expect a senior to need to go to the bathroom once or twice overnight. I do not think the family will hire a live in plus overnight assistance to the live in.

When my dad was not sleeping nights and calling for help constantly, we had a day and a night caregiver. A live in can be expected to take care of occasional 24 hour issues, but active 24 interaction requires someone "at post".

Maybe the agency can place you elsewhere, but I expect most live in assignments will have some nocturnal duties. If you have trouble getting back to sleep, live in assignments may not be the best for you.

Thanks a lot for your answers!
The relatives of my clients pay me £81 for 24 hours. I am a self-employed carer. I usually work two weeks, with two hours break, 7/24. At the beginning of my lice-in care, I was paid £65 for 24 hours plus extra £12 for every night call. But soon afterwards the conditions changed. Obviously, to pay for every night call was too expensive for the family, so they have called my Agency and they have received a suggestion to change the rate of payment - to be paid £81 for 24 hours, without considering how many times I will be called during the night. I was very naïve to accept that suggesting without first thinking that I could be disturbed so many times. My Agency states that night calls are from 00.00am to 06.00am. Is it correct?

Yes, I'd talk to the agency that employs you. They should be the ones to handle it. It's not fair to you as a paid caregiver to be working 24/7.

My MIL was getting up 3- 4 times/night. It makes you feel really cranky and out of it I know. I think you need to speak to the family that you have to get relief or can not continue. Since you also work for agency, you need to discuss this with them as well.
Sleep deprivation will set you up for illness.

It sounds as if they are taking advantage of you. How do they pay you? I would think having a night person would be more expensive. At least pay you more for the night work. You need to look for a new position and specify "days only". People will do to you what they can get away with.