Confused about live in care companion pay vs staying rent free.
A lady contacts me. She is a Case Manager at a well-known Elderly Care agency, so I trusted her. She knew I needed a place rent free, so she said I could be a guest in her mom’s home (she lives next door). She emphasized that she didn’t hire me, that I can’t use her address, and she was adamant about not putting anything in writing. I’m expected to be there at night from 6 pm until the morning. It really isn’t difficult. She has caregivers during the day. Her meals are prepared. I’m just there to provide companionship, clean her dishes at night and walk her dog. I’m able to have a job during the day, but other caregivers are saying I should get paid. I really like the lady. But I like to be honest and abide by the law. Is the lady shady? The way she reacted about the contract bothers me. She doesn’t want it to be on record that I ever stayed there. Is this normal? Should I be grateful or skeptical?
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https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/direct-care/faq#companionship
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/direct-care/credit-wages
The second link discusses the employer getting a credit for supplying housing.
The IRS also has discussion on their website but I can't find that link now.
I think the laws are usually enforced on the state level.
Farmers provide housing for their workers but they still provide a wage. Roofers and contractors provide housing many times but they still pay a wage. Many restaurants in resort areas provide housing for their workers but still pay a wage.
Most state labor departments would not look kindly on a personal household worker (which you would be) not getting paid. I'd keep a diary of the days you worked, and what you did on each shift in case you ever want to approach the State Labor Dept regarding back/no pay.
As a reference I was paying private duty $30 per hour for overnight caregivers in a country area through May of 2024. We allowed the caregivers to sleep on the couch. Almost everyone had daytime jobs that they went off to. Several worked daytime nursing home jobs. One was a social worker and one was a daycare teacher.
If this prevents you from being homeless and sleeping in your car I would take it. Yes, the lady is a shady operator. You can see this by her use of "guest." You can see this when she said you can not use the address. A "guest" can come and go as they please. An employee cannot.
A better gig would be to get legal pay for overnight work and still keep your daytime job. Agency work would run about $18-$20 per hour for you. If you got 3 overnights from Agency #1 @18 per hour that would gross you 18x12x3=$648 for 3 overnights. If you picked up 3 overnights from Agency #2 that would gross you an extra $648.
Doing 6 overnights between 2 agencies would gross you $1296 per week plus you would have your day job money also.. On night 7 check into a motel. You'd pretty quickly earn deposits for a place.
Again, I'd take it if it kept me from sleeping in a car. If you take it continue to look for other arrangements. The care for this woman will increase over time.
You guys telling her to be “grateful”? For what? The cleanup with this senior is going to escalate beyond the dishes to the bathroom. The sweet old lady likely has a bad back too, so dear, won’t you just do a quick vacuum every day? After all, Dakota tromps on said floor as well.
The OP should not even see the daytime caregivers. The only interaction she should have with them is maybe passing one of them on her way to work when they're coming in, or passing one on their way out when both their workdays are done.
Someone wants a live-in position and that's why they're telling her to start demanding pay. I've been on many shared agency jobs and had other caregivers try to push me out to get my hours. I never did that on a shared assignment, then again I have an unusually strong work ethic. I was usually married so losing some hours really wasn't life or death for me, and it is for some people.
I hope this OP does not get chummy and trusting with these caregivers or listen to any of their advice because they will double-cross her as soon as look at her.
Friendships can't exist between caregivers on a shared agency-hired assignent. It can in private homecare if there's one Primary Caregiver that the others answer to. On private assignments, I always brought in my own people if we needed more coverage. Experienced CNA caregivers that were the best in this field. Homecare workers always know so many others. They all knew to never to cross me because I will ruin them and they will never work private duty again. Of course with websites like care.com they get work anywhere in the country. It was different before.
I just had to fire a good caregiver on a shared assignment. She was talking to the client and the family about needing more hours and that it didn't make sense to have two caregivers working the same job. It makes sense to me.
They got the same pay. I told her if she needed more hours she should have come to me and I'd find her something. It might be weekends, but you'd get more hours. Instead she went behind my back and tried to get the other caregiver pushed out by the family of the client. I fired her for that and she will not receive a job reference from me. Now there's another caregiver in her position and so far so good.
You're not being taken advantage of. They're doing you a favor because you need a place to live. You are a guest who gets a place to live for free and you don't have to do anything except wash a few dishes and walk the dog.
Let me tell you something. I have 25 years experience in the homecare field and I own a homecare business for some time now. You're getting a good deal here. Don't rock the boat because it may result in you getting thrown overboard and finding yourself homeless. Homecare is a cut-throat business and one of those daytime caregivers advising that you should get paid, may very well be looking for a live-in position themselves. So watch out.
You say you can work a job. Good! Save up every cent you make and ride this sweet gravy train until it stops. Then get your own place if you need to. You've got a golden opportunity here to live for free while also being able to work and save. You also like and get along with the woman who's house you live in? Granted this Care Manager is totally unprofessional, committing illegal acts, and if she worked for me would be fired at once and turned into the State, but it's working out for you. So for now you should leave well enough alone because getting fussy and demanding pay for doing nothing will likely blow up in your face and leave you in the street.
Tell the daytime caregivers that you're happy with your situation and they should concern themselves with doing their jobs and not worry about your living situation.
If things ever change, you're welcome to move out and find another place.
It sounds great to me. Make sure your regular job pays you enough to put some in savings, as this won't last forever. But, does anything?
She's not "working" at all. She walks the dog and tidies up a few dishes. The OP can work an actual job. She is a long-term guest in the woman's home. She stays for free, doesn't even have to pay a share of the utilities or grocery bills. It's a nice home. She likes the senior she's staying with and gets along with them.
She's got a pretty good deal going on here and should not get fussy about being paid because it will blow up in her face and she'll find herself in the street. Many people are on hard times these days and the Care Manager/friend can easily find someone else who will gladly take on the living situation the OP has.
IMO if this is working for you, I see no problem. You do no caring of this woman. Your there "just in case". Be aware though, if this woman dies or ends up in care, you probably will have nowhere to live.
Time to contact APS and ask how to contact to find out labor law in your area. If this is a good fit for you, a place to live in exchange for walking a dog and being present to call an ambulance if needed, ask APS to find out if this "agreement" is legal in your specific area, or not. Contact Adult Protective Services in your area.