Live -in dementia carers.

[marsmonster]

Ciould anyone advise, I am thinking of engaging a live -in carer for my mother, is there anything I need to do . ie special insurance, are they self employed? has anyone had any experience of this situation.

[Buenchico]

You could get a carer through an agency. If so, you'd have the advantage of not having to worry about tax and national insurance. You'd also automatically get cover supplied when your regular carer was sick or on holiday. The disadvantage of doing so, however, is that it will cost you quite a bit more because the agency will have to take their cut out of what you pay.

HMRC take a dim view of people claiming to be self-employed when they're working on a regular basis for just one employer. So if you engage the services of a full-time carer (other than through an agency) you would need deduct PAYE and National Insurance. See here:
http://www.theanswerb...n/Question924227.html
You'd have to ensure that the carer received a minimum of 28 days paid holiday per year and that their shift patterns complied with the relevant legislation:
http://www.direct.gov...sAndTimeOff/index.htm

With regard to insurance, see here:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf

Chris

[Whoever]

You may find it helpful to consult the Fact Sheets on various topics relating to care for the elderly which you will find on the Age Concern website. This charity is dealing all the time with queries relating to caring for the eldely and may also be able to advice you on any benefits, such as Attendance Allowance, to which your mother might be entitled, to help pay part of the costs.