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P
prestoni Asked January 2021

What is the amount you should charge a live-in caregiver for room and board? They don't work weekends but are still in the house off duty.

Paying a live in $1800 a week (Monday through Friday) or $93,600 a year. Her salary includes food, her own room and a bathroom. Sat and Sun I bring in agency people to give her 2 days off. My mother has to be turned 2x a night. She has worked for us since the first week of December 2020. She signed a contract that states her room and board is free which is part of her salary, although I've been told that some families charge their caregivers. She now wants a $125 week raise which would bring her to $100,000.00 a year. She says she needs 8 hours of sleep a night (even I don't get 8 hours). Advice?

Countrymouse Jan 2021
Is living in a requirement of the role when this person is on duty?
Is it practical for the person also to maintain somewhere else to live, and to take him or herself away at weekends?

The reason I ask these questions is that at first sight the idea of charging the person rent for room and board seems... ungenerous, at best. Perhaps one approach you might consider would be to calculate the market rate for the rental and subsistence, and then include that in the person's compensation and benefits package and see how well paid it makes the job.

Frebrowser Jan 2021
I assume you are in compliance with minimum wage laws in your area, but this could be interesting reading on how to determine if any credit can be applied for housing.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/direct-care/credit-wages/faq

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Frebrowser Jan 2021
Are you sure you want a tenant with tenant's rights?
Frebrowser Jan 2021
Consult an appropriate lawyer.

And remember to talk to an accountant about rental income, depreciation, and depreciation recapture on sale if there isn't a step in basis because the house is inherited before sale.
Frebrowser Jan 2021
Your contract says it is free and specifies salary. Does the contract have a beginning and ending date?

I'm afraid that you may experience a lot of turnover before you find a good fit for this schedule.

You need someone who goes back to sleep easily or can otherwise deal with being able to sleep in blocks of 2.5 or 4 hours. (Mom needs to be turned twice over an 7.5 to 12 hour night?)

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