A: The terms “Caregiver” or “Live-in Caregiver” include both caregivers for seniors and nannies.  While the duties and jobs of the two are very different, both fall under Canada’s Live-in Caregiver program for work permit purposes.  When we talk about a Caregiver, this includes both senior caregivers and nannies.

A:  Your live-in caregiver or nanny must:

• Work for you in your home
• Live in your home and have a private, furnished room
• Be employed on a full-time basis
• You must pay the transportation costs, and temporary health coverage until provincial coverage commences

A: Most caregivers are allowed to stay in Canada for up to three years, but are entitled to apply for permanent residency after the second year.  This can allow a caregiver to stay with an employer for many years, which can be of particular benefit to seniors who have become comfortable with their caregiver.  Note that an employer may terminate the employment contract at any time, on the same basis as any other employer/employee in the province.

A: Yes, both the employer and employee have the right to terminate the employment contract.  However any foreign worker, including live-in caregivers, may only work for the employer named on their work permit.  Because of the time and difficulty in finding an approved employer and changing their work permits, this is not normally an attractive alternative for the caregiver.

A: It normally takes several months from the time a choice is made, but can vary depending on government processing times.

A: A minimum live-in caregiver wage is determined by each province.  Likewise, an allowable amount for room and board which may be deducted from the salary is prescribed by the province.  Currently in Alberta, an average month based on a 44 hour work week would cost about $1,700 after deducting room and board.  In BC the cost would be $1210, and about $1605 in Saskatchewan. It is worth noting that the cost of a caregiver in the home is often substantially less than the cost of living in a care facility.

We are pleased to recommend Ceridian Payroll Services to our clients for those who do not wish to manage the payroll themselves.  Please click here for more information.

A: Most of our caregivers are Philippine nationals who have gained experience working in other countries such as Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan. We prefer caregivers who have shown that they are comfortable working away from home, and can demonstrate good experience and provide excellent personal references from other families.  We are proud to act in collaboration with the Canadian law firm Mandeville & Associates in providing properly approved and documented caregivers to Canadian families.

A: There are two reasons.  Firstly, for many foreign caregivers Canadian wages are much higher than what they can earn in their home countries.  Secondly, the Canadian Live-in Caregiver program offers caregivers the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after a specified period of employment.  This unique opportunity attracts highly skilled workers who are willing to work for a lower salary now in order to qualify for residency later.

A: All candidates are pre-screened before being considered as potential senior caregivers or nannies.  Pre-screening involves the verification of employment and educational qualifications, and the checking of references.  Once an employer has made a selection, the candidate undergoes further screening including a medical examination, police and security background checks, and final review and approval by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

A: Because we take such care in selecting, screening and matching caregivers with families, we are pleased to offer a guarantee to our clients.  If for any reason your senior caregiver or nanny is not to your satisfaction within the first three months of employment, we will replace them with a new candidate at no cost to you.