I live out of state. My sisters have the brunt of the caregiving for our mother who has always been adamant about staying in her home.
My sisters have been juggling jobs and family, their own surgeries and a zillions doctors appointments. My sisters need a break. I am a teacher. Over the summer, I can take care of my mother. My sister will be flying with Mother and dropping her off. Then my sisters will take well deserved vacations.
We are finally into a groove where mother isn't fighting having "people in her house". She loves these angels. We don't want to lose the caregivers we have. What is appropriate to pay them while I am caring for her? We want to keep our "angels" on retainer. Has anyone been in this situation?
We can't afford to give them a true "full salary" paid vacation time, but we think we want to pay them something.
I don't want my sisters to have to start searching over again for caregivers that Mother accepts.
(Be prepared for Mom being difficult and unable to settle into different surroundings at your house, too. They don't do well with change.)
When we went through this after my mother-in-law died and her aide was faced with unemployment, our family decided to keep her on for my father-in-law even though she was not needed at the time. But FIL was still living in his place and not going somewhere for the summer.
If your mother pays them full salary now then how is it that she cannot afford to pay them full salary for vacation time?
Because they could file for unemployment if they have been being paid legally as employees.
It would be considered that their positions are seasonal and they could collect on the benefits that you guys have been paying for them, if this has been done above board.
If they have been paid under the table, ask them how they want to handle it and what they find would be a fair amount. Or if they will even be available for employment when she comes back.
Communication with them is the only way to ensure what they will do.