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I would like to get paid so he can stay home and enjoy his life. He would pay me from personal funds. His children want to interfere in our daily lives and control him. What are your thoughts?

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I am assuming you have been together some time? If not, family isn't going to be accepting of this with a dementia diagnosis. If you are together some time I wish this had been thought of and addressed earlier. That said, I think given you are partners (my guy and I are AS WELL, with 37 years with one another) it is VERY crucial that you get things done legally and on paper. While he is still competent to make decisions this should be done for BOTH your protections. You will go together to an elder law attorney and make out papers--all of them. Good solid POA for health, medical, advance directives done and POA for financial. He will update will or Trusts and make certain everything will go where he wishes to go. You will do shared living cost contracts as well as caregiving contracts and etc and your attorney will explain legal options.

My partner and I are joined in our state as "Domestic Partners". We have many state benefits to this with California treating domestic partners basically as tho married (can even file joint taxes) while federal law doesn't always. Our Trusts are made ironclad, and must be.

Don't skip doing things legally. I will come back to bite. And it's crucial you do it while he can pass exam with attorney.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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I can’t imagine a girlfriend would have much say is such matters unless he legally made you PoA. Especially vs an adult child.
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Reply to ZippyZee
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NCpartner, it all depends on how long you 2 have been together. If you are a new and a lot younger partner it looks to the children that you are, maybe the term cat fishing him, and the children have every right to be upset.

I'm not saying this is what's going on, but we do get children writing in that a stranger has taken over my days home.

On the other hand some children can really be difficult in a long term partner relationship.

Who is anyone has POA?

Let us know more information when you get time. Best of luck
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Reply to Anxietynacy
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You don’t provide much info. Who has POA?
I am just assuming if he can pay you there is enough money. You also implied kids want control. That does not sound promising. If you read many stories on this forum dementia usually involves sooner or later 24/7.
You need solid legal advice.
Any contract should stipulate further increases in required care, with additional caregivers and respite for you.
Contingency plans if you get sick.
And protect or don’t use your assets for his care.
What will happen to you after years of caregiving?
Think of at least 10 years plan. Does he have enough to pay you?
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Reply to Evamar
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Legally, his children likely have the law behind them when they decide what needs to happen for his care.
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Reply to Southernwaver
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You're not going to be able to stop his children from "interfering" in their father's life, so grin and bear it, that's my suggestion. Lots of elders with dementia get taken advantage of by caregivers and others, so it's their job to look after dad.

See an elder care attorney to determine whether an agreement can be drawn up for you to get paid. Whoever holds FPOA for your b/f would have to agree, however, because that person controls the finances. And he'd have to be deemed competent TO agree to pay you a fair amount of money as well.

Good luck.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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If the children hold Financial and Medical POA you really have no say. And if Medicaid maybe be involved within 5 years, you receiving money for caring for him needs an ironclad agreement written by a lawyer and notarized. Since your partner has Dementia, he may not be able to sign this agreement because he is incompetent to do so.

By law, unless you hold POAs, you have no legal rights. People living together do not have the rights that married couples do. I so hope you have your ducks in a row because if he passes, you may not have anything and are at the mercy of his children.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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My late uncle had two relationships after his wife died. The first lasted 19 years before the gf died, after which uncle embarked on a caregiver/gf relationship for two years before he died in November.

She was under the impression that her 1500/mo stipend plus use of the house would continue. The children moved for immediate eviction. Months of adversarial process ensued. Totally Unnecessary.

I would have him talk to his kids about how having you is better than going into some Al for everyone involved. If he dies at home, that’s an asset that the children, not you, should inherit, It is better to view yourself more as “friend” or “employee” than as any part of this family, which is the point at which you negotiate for your salary and rent be continued for six months or a year. During that time, you handle the dispensation of personal property and the supervision of contractors. During which time you can actually work somewhere else, allowing you and them to part seamlessly when the year rolls around.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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I worked for a VNA. We had a Client whose wife owned the house before they married later in life. Second marriages for both and both had adult children. She died before him and in her Will he could live in her house till he too passed, and at that time would revert to her children. He paid the bills, upkeep and taxes. Well, he hadva GF who owned her own house but preferred his because he had a/c. Little by little she moved herself in. I was friendly with his DIL. When his health started declining his son told her she had to start moving out to her own house because the house was not his father's. She did not listen. Felt because she wasca GF and now practically living there she had rights. She was told a number of times she needed to move out. Well, he passed. So, the house reverted to her kids. The daughter lived locally and hadvthe GF move out back to her own home. The GF complained that she was kicked out onto the streets to everyone. Our nurses knew better.

What I am trying to say here, is you really do not have a leg to stand on. When he dies, your on your own.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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