I know the rate that we pay our attendants can vary based on where we live, but I have a hard time seeing more than $25 an hour being the top end. Especially just for basic ADLs. If you are paying $30 an hour, I sure hope your expectation of care is stellar. I mean immaculate care, always on time, doing things above and beyond the basic or even more than that. I still pay today starting at $15 an hour. It takes working for me at least six months before I will bump that up to $20 an hour where I expect timeliness, thoroughness, and a cheery attitude. If I'm going to go to $25/hr, they better do things beyond ADLs. Things like vacuuming, mopping, organizing all of my things without asking.
I think that what you may be feeling is "what would I want to be paid if I did this job". You really have to get out of this mindset, because there are many things I asked to be done that personally I probably would not do it unless it was a direct loved one. Today most starting jobs are $15 an hour and they are expected to do more work than what we expect for ADLs. I know it's hard not to feel guilty, especially when they are a nice person and probably have a family. People who we have even considered family because of how closely they work with us. I have been through over 300 attendants in my 34 years. While I may have felt very closely to those who stuck with me through years and invited to family events and worked with the children. In the end, they were not actually family. They had to move on and live their lives based on what they needed. What may help is setting up a bonus plan. Set their pay and a base of $20 an hour and list or just give bonuses each pay period based on stellar or above the normal work. This would allow you to give a bonus of nothing or hundreds of dollars if they were especially helpful one pay period. Hope this helps, your brother in SCI. Aaron Mann On Sat, Jan 27, 2024 at 1:30 PM Eric Olson <whee...@wi.rr.com> wrote: > I agree. $30/hour seems awfully generous even if your cares were > extensive and more complex. Doing just basic ADL'S seems like a pretty > easy gig especially for that money > > On Sat, Jan 27, 2024 at 5:54 AM Dana <wraydan...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> That is way above the average pay a CNA makes. They should not be asking >> for a raise if so I try to find other people. That's just my opinion. It >> will be great to hear, what others have to say from the list. Thank you >> for asking pertinent questions. >> Dana >> >> On Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 3:18 PM Daniel Gove <quadz...@optonline.net> >> wrote: >> >>> Hello everyone, >>> A question for all on the list who use private duty CNA/Home Health Aide >>> Care and pay for it >>> out of pocket, how much you pay your CNA/Home health aide per hour? I >>> have two >>> excellent CIA's and both are complaining that they are not earning >>> enough. Thing is, >>> I gave them both raises are a few months ago, from $28.00 to $30.00 an >>> hour. I know >>> that's not a lot but at the time that's all I could afford but my >>> financial situation >>> Changed for the better and now I can afford a little more and am >>> wondering what a >>> a good hourly rate is to pay an excellent CNA? Below are my morning >>> and evening Care plans: >>> Morning care plan: >>> Sponge bath, upper body (no legs or feet) Done in bed, six days a week, >>> whole body 7 days a week. >>> Getting dressed (also done in bed) I usually wear nylon running pants, >>> no underpants so just involves changing the pants. >>> Sliding board transfer into power chair. >>> She makes a breakfast which usually consists of brewed coffee & >>> microwave pancakes or >>> waffles done in toaster oven. On Fridays and only Friday she'll make >>> scrambled eggs >>> and a toasted English muffin. >>> 3 days a week she'll make a wrap sandwich. >>> Quite a few little side jobs like checking and opening my mail, opening >>> any boxes or packages I may receive. >>> >>> >>> Night time care plan: >>> Mixing and serving me metamucil. >>> Getting undressed, 99% of time only involves taking off shirt. >>> Sliding board transfer into bed. >>> Range of motion exercises on legs, takes about 10 minutes. >>> Prepare night snack, usually just 2 apple slices & 2 prunes. The >>> Moving wheelchair into place by bed (power chair, heavy, not very easy >>> to move) >>> Also occasional little side jobs like checking & opening my mail, >>> opening any boxes or packages I may receive. >>> >>> Sorry for such long list, just wanted you all to get a good idea of how >>> much work these girls do. Thanks! >>> >>> >>> Dan G. >>> quadz...@optonline.net >>> >>>
