A live-in caregiver is an individual that lives in the patient's home, and provides round-the-clock care.
The tasks and duties of a live-in caregiver can vary, depending on the needs of the individual being cared for. For example, the individual may need help opening a chip bag, or bathing. Both of these would be considered suitable tasks for a live-in caregiver. On the other hand, taking over the individual's welding hobby would likely not be considered appropriate for someone seeking a live-in caregiver job.
Setting expectations on the live-in caregiver's duties during the hiring process is important, as it is not something that they would be able to infer on their own.
For examples of duties that would be suitable for a live-in caregiver, see: Unlicensed Assistive Personnel.
There is no hard and fast rule for when to hire a live-in caregiver. Ideally, a live-in caregiver would be moved in and up to speed before the individual in need is unable to have their needs met independently and by existing supports such as family.
Live-in caregivers can be found in the following ways:
Agencies always charge fees as part of the hiring process. Many specialized job boards also charge a fee to use the service.
An interview with a candidate should attempt to answer two fundamental questions. First, are they able to do the work required? Second, will they be willing to do the work required?
Ability to work involves determining the following:
Willingness to perform the duties involves determining the following:
Hiring a candidate involves creating a formal employment contract, the means and the requirements for which vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another. Consult an employment lawyer for further details.
The total cost of employing a live-in caregiver can be difficult to calculate. Foreign workers may require sponsorship to enter the country, which may include service charges with the government, and legal fees.
The live-in caregiver's income is subject to income taxes and benefit deductions.
What is considered work and what is considered leisure time can be difficult to distinguish. Often, there are large gaps where the live-in caregiver does not have any immediate work to do, but must remain nearby in case assistance is required. Many jurisdictions have weakly-defined employment laws for these working relationships.
A live-in caregiver may be brought along for activities, such as restaurants, movies, or travel. The live-in caregiver would not be expected to pay for their own participation in these activities.
| Table: live-in caregiver costs | |
|---|---|
| Expense | Recurring? |
| Service charges for caregiver placement agency, or job board postings | No |
| Fees for government and legal services related to work permits | No |
| Costs associated with setting up a living space: furniture, bedding, etc. | No |
| Income | Yes |
| Employer contribution for employee benefit deductions | Yes |
| Portion of utility costs: water, electricity, etc. | Yes |
| Costs associated with travel and activity participation | Yes |
A live-in caregiver from another country must be legally allowed to work in the patient's jurisdiction. The candidate's residency status should be verified to be both valid and remain valid for a suitable length of time for the position. Their status must also be valid for the given job position.
A caregiver from another country will not be able to travel to countries that do not offer visa-free travel, or visa-on-arrival for their country of citizenship.
Individuals for other parts of the world may have limited language skills in the patient's native language.
Cultural and moral differences may be an issue in some circumstances. Throughout the world, attitudes towards law, religion, nudity and sexuality, violence, and other moral topics vary greatly. All members of the household, including a live-in caregiver, must feel that they are in a healthy environment when it comes to these issues.
Live-in caregivers must be given a suitable amount of time off from their duties. Regulations with respect to working hours and vacation can vary widely from one jurisdiction to another. Providing adequate time off, including time away from being on-call is essential, as failure to do so may lead to burnout and eventual surrendering of their duties.
Live-in caregivers have a right to have somewhat of a social life, including maintaining contact with existing friends and family, and making new friends and spending time with them.
Live-in caregivers require a private room with a lockable door. The room must be a suitable size for them to sleep, and do activities such as reading or using a computer or telephone. They should have ready access to a bathroom, laundry facilities and a kitchen in order to prepare meals for themselves. Fundamentally, if they are a live-in caregiver, they need to have everything they need to consider themselves at home.