It's kind of you of think about care takers. Many people do that type of work struggle financially and they would greatly appreciate cash. A relative of mine gave a big cash give to two caretakers before he died. He didn't want his family members to argue over this so he took care of that.

Thanks. We work with two different agencies as well as someone we pay directly ( through a payroll service).
The person who takes the night shift has shown rock solid dependability over about ten months and will stick with us to the end. Being able to sleep in peace is a gift for is, so we wanted to convey our appreciation. She will get a new job instantly; demand is high. Someone suggested a week’s pay and maybe thats the right thing. Thanks, all.

We just kept tipping on the side and send a thank you note with a check. There is no being insulting with writing a genuine thank you and giving a monetary gift. Stick to what you can afford. There is no right or wrong amount.

My mom had a longtime caregiver, Larla, but Larla's extended family was always taking her $.

My mom wanted to leave her a few thousand dollars but knew the adult son would end up using it to pay off his new truck...

Anyways we put it in an account and had an amount (can't remember, say $500 every two weeks or so), automatically mailed to her to assist her in managing her money.

It sounds a little paternalistic in print, but we were trying to give the caregiver some care giving...since no one else in her life did, everyone was sponges. She was thrilled.

At the end, my mom had me write notes and checks for two weeks worth of pay for each of the caregivers. She signed the notes and checks before she passed, and we distributed them right afterwards before her accounts were frozen.

If you are planning to gift them out of the estate, you need to make sure the estate allows for that. It would be over and above the hill so it might not be permissible under the terms of the will. You can always gift them out of your own pocket.

If you are thinking ahead, I would probably write some kind of severance into the contract that specifies that it's if the contract ends due to either the death or a move to nursing home kind of situation. I wouldn't leave the money in the will, because that's going to leave a long period before they receive it, and many people working caregiving roles, even at above market rate, aren't going to need money in the aftermath of a sudden job loss.

I think, although I could be wrong, that writing it in the contract would mean you could just issue a final paycheck without waiting for the estate.

14:06 PP ^^ The agency help WAS given cash gifts at end of year and say 6 month marks as well as generous access to food and $$ for Ubers in bad weather.

For the caretakers to stay until the very end - rather than seeking a new position - it’s a selfless act on some level. My father’s will stipulated that his main caretaker was to receive $8000 if she remained until his death. I’m not aware of why that amount was settled on. It took her 3 weeks to find another job that she was well-matched for so at minimum it helped her find a good employer. My father also had a rotating list of caretakers from an agency which were not recognized in the will. Presumably agency caretakers would be assigned to another client.
Some of us in the family individually also gave the caretaker cash gifts and notes. We were incredibly grateful that our father - and earlier our mother - had caring and competent help as they lived their final days. Be as generous and caring as you can be.

Just make absolutely sure all the bills are paid from the estate before you do so. Both my mom and my wife's dad died with bankrupt estates. There was no money left to use to thank caretakers.

Are you asking what is the appropriate amount, for a patient who has already died? Or are you referring to how to take care of, say, your caretakers acts you die?

Will

How do we do this? We are not wealthy, but don’t want to be insulting. Carers were well paid according to market rates and with benefits and holiday (cash) gifts. Some full time for two years, one part time for a year. A few one day a week over time.

Thanks for suggestions.