She's a parapalegic, he works 3 day on, 36hrs off, 3 nights on, off 3 days, works 4 days, off 3 days, works 4 nights, off one week all work hrs are 12 hr shifts. and sometimes he gets called in early or called in on his off days. They pay my phone bill which is attached to their plan about $58 monthly with unlimited talk, text and data, as their bill averages around $226 and they have 3 phones of their own. I live in a 66"x93" room in a building off the main house which has a power cord running to it for my electric. I use the wifi, I take a bath twice a month (washing with baby wipes between bath times), my dog drinks one liter of water every 4 days, I clean up after him and myself, I wash my hair once a week, I drink a cup of their coffee in the mornings, I buy my own food and drinks. I Take trash out to the cans, I haul trash to the dump (in my vehicle), I go groc. shopping (in my vehicle), I pick up her meds from store (in my vehicle), I go do their laundry (in my vehicle), I run and pick up cat food from vets (in my vehicle), I clean the house, both bathrooms (even though I only use the main bath), I do the dishes (by hand and dish washer), I've cut their lawn this summer, weed eated, tended to her outdoor plants, tended to her indoor plants, Get her out of bed from time to time (getting her dressed), putting her to bed every night (getting her undressed) emptying her cath bag, from time to time I've help her get in the shower, I help her prep meals, clean up after her, put the leftovers up, I do clean up after him as well, take her to doctor appointments (she does buy me a soda) , hair appointments (she does buy me a soda), cleaned up after her cat would yack, clean her cat's litter box, help her put meds in med cups, fill the med machine, sometimes I have to do her meds completely (cause she is mentally unable), I get her food and drinks throughout the night when he's working, if she calls no matter the time of day I drop what I'm doing to assist (even if it's 4 am). I go with them on trip to help out (they do pay for my food and soda). If I don't go with I clean the house top to bottom disinfecting everything, I get down on my hands and knees scrubbing the floors, I don't let them get me pizza when they order, I don't allow them to order anything for me from pricey take out restaurants. I just want to know what my time is really worth plus using my personal vehicle for the running I've done too. I know I'm being used but to what extent! I'm editing this to let y'all know there is one task I just won't do for her and that's what he calls pooping her. I won't wipe her!
Sounds like what you are doing is priceless.
If you aren’t satisfied with your salary ask for an increase or find another job. You have caregiving skills on your resume.
You have the power to change.
What are you being paid now? Or is your room and board (and you don't even get all your meals, do you?) the payment for all that you do? (I HOPE NOT!)
btw, there are cna certificate courses available online
1. You don't get paid, nor do you get reimbursement for using your own car. How then do you pay for insurance and upkeep on the car? You must be getting funds from some source in order to maintain the car and insurance.
2. You have and apparently care for a pet. How do you pay for the pet's food and vet care? BTW, you could contact pet groups and find a temporary home for your pet while you're redirecting your life. It's no favor for a pet to be owned by someone who isn't getting any income for herself, let alone to provide and care for a pet.
3. You wrote: "I am forced to live with people that have been using me as a live in caregiver." No, you're not. By your own admission you've made a lot of bad choices, but you're the only one who can turn your life around and not be "forced" to be used.
4. This post is eerily similar to a long thread that ran on and on sometime ago. Similar situation...woman who wrote that she was living in a miserable, financially abusive situation but couldn't leave b/c she couldn't find a place that would accommodate her pet.
Before you respond that I'm not being sensitive to your plight, think about the advice you've been given. The situation is by your own description undesirable if not abusive. Yet you're asking how much you SHOULD be paid, even though you're been working for free, and apparently the couple don't want to pay you despite your hints. You're not asking for ways to get out of this situation, even though posters have offered advice on this.
It's difficult not to see barriers at every turn, but your whole life seems to be plagued by abuse. Do you realize that it's time to get some counseling to help you discover how this whole abusive situation occurred and has repeated itself one way or another throughout your life?
Did you ever get rape counseling? Did you ever testify in court to help bring these people to justice? If not, why not?
Start contacting your county government and find out how you can get counseling for free. Ask about battered women counseling.
WHO has the power to change this? Only you.
I can't find the thread, started by someone with Dakota (Dakota MT?) in the screen name. If anyone else remembers this poster, perhaps you could share the full screen name.
If this post could be found, it would be excellent reading and insight into a situation similar to yours. A lot of advice was given to the poster. Whether or not anything ever changed is unknown.
you can take your pet