When the live in caregiver for your loved one (that you do not live with) goes off shift for a few days or more do you have her text or call?

My mom doesn’t have a live in caregiver, but 4 caregivers cover her 24/7 care. I know their basic schedule, but I do NOT have them call me when they switch it up because of something coming up in their personal life. I’ve told them repeatedly that I don’t care whose there & when, as long as someone is there. I’ve NEVER had a problem and I think they like the freedom. They do have time sheets they fill out & most of the time Mom can still tell on them.

I see no problem if her shift is covered but she needs to tell you when she won't be working.

Don't be afraid to ask. You are her employer or at least the payroll clerk. Its being responsible and as a professional she needs to give you the courtesy of telling you when she is taking off. All she needs to do is make sure her shift is covered.

caregivingstuff, are you hiring caregivers not through an Agency or through an Agency? If not through an Agency, I can fully understand the need to make sure someone is at the house at all times. That alone is a lot of stress on yourself.

I used an Agency, and it was the Agency's responsibility to get all the caregivers to arrive on their shift. I didn't need to oversee that. If a caregiver had called out, immediately the Agency would schedule another person to fill in.

Oh, I never had a live-in caregiver because I felt that person would be doing the work of 3 full-time caregivers every day, thus that person will eventually crash and burn. Plus there is the expense of having to have "workman's comp" insurance for any caregiver not hired through an Agency. And doing payroll unless you use a check processing company.

Caregiving can be so complex.

We use a registry so they do not operate like a regular agency tracking hours and so forth. It is up to me.