How much should a live-in caregiver get paid?

A live-in caregiver is an option to get around the clock at home. This living well-care service can provide support not only for the care recipients but also for their families. However, how much do you need to sustain this?  

The value of employing a live-in caregiver

The typical rate of employing a live-in caregiver is between $9 and $25 per hour. The national average of this home care service per hour is $17 and $690 per week. If you check the annual, the median is roughly $35,700. Meanwhile, the high salary per annum ranges from $42,000 to $49,000.

Compared to assisted living, the figures above are more inexpensive. The monthly cost of caregiving in the facilities is roughly $4,000 according to the 2018 Genworth Cost of Care survey, whereas in live-in caregiving, your budget can start at $1,000 per month. 

Although live-in caregiving is generally low, it can also be more expensive than assisted living. In some states and even work agreements, it can reach as high as $5,000 monthly too. The price is hefty depending on different factors that include: 

The agreement on the accommodation. The live-in caregivers, unlike the 24-hour carers, should have a place to stay. The latter doesn’t need lodging because there are two to three professionals who do shift work. They come and go for their eight or 12-hour shift period. Hence, expenses in providing room or residence, transportation, or utilities for the live-in caregivers may add to the cost. These apart from the other factors in terms of the compensation package, let’s say salary bonus.  

The city or state of the client. The rate of living well care services such as live-in caregivers differs from state to state. In New Jersey, the average annual salary of caregivers is $55,660; the lowest is around $36,000, while the highest is $85,000. In North Carolina, the typical salary range is between $17,000 and $51,000 annually. The median is around $30,440 per year, according to Zippia.com.

The demands for the job. Whether it is an assisted living or home care, the required depth of work can affect the cost. If it is about mobility, the caregivers need to be there day and night to assist. What more if the care recipient has specific health conditions like seizure disorder or dementia? These are not only demanding physically but also skills. The caregiver should acquire training or license before offering services in any of these cases. 

Benefits of this living well-care service

Although there are also concerns in live-in caregiving, it has overwhelming benefits for the care recipients. Some of its advantages include:

More personalized service. Live-in caregivers promise close monitoring and assistance. The elders can count on that the attention they need for their personal and health care is well-covered. 

Have a companion all the time. Senior or not, staying at home alone and suffering from a medical condition can cause several concerns. It may be agitation, depression, or other mental or physical issues.

Help the family members as well. When care recipients have reliable and competent caregivers, their families also reap the benefits of one-on-one living well care. They will be at ease while carrying out their daily activities.