What you may and may not ask a caregiver

Under the authority's procedures, a foreign caregiver was brought to Israel for one purpose only: nursing care of the patient named in the permit. Any other work is forbidden by law.

1. What you may ask of the caregiver #

The caregiver's role is to help the patient with the daily activities the patient cannot do alone, and to stay beside the patient at home.

• Personal care: washing, dressing, help in the bathroom, feeding, and giving the patient food.
• Moving about at home and outside, and going with the patient to the doctor and to errands that concern the patient.
• Giving medicines by a doctor's prescription and watching that they are taken. No invasive medical procedures.
• Staying beside the patient to prevent falls.
• Ordinary cleaning of the patient's home and the caregiver's room, laundry, ironing, and cooking for the patient, and shopping for the patient's household only.

2. What you may not ask #

• Contractor-level cleaning: high windows, moving heavy furniture, a pre-holiday deep clean, or renovation.
• Work for other relatives: cooking, cleaning, or caring for the children and grandchildren of the family.
• Farm work, heavy gardening, or building work.
• Any work outside the patient's home that is not about the patient, such as help in a family business.
• Forbidden medical acts: injections, changing a catheter, and treating deep pressure sores.

Employment in forbidden work breaches the permit and can lead to its cancellation, to fines, and even to cancellation of the caregiver's visa.

3. Working hours, rest, and the weekly rest day #

A live-in post is 24/6. That does not mean 24 hours of continuous work. The employer must allow reasonable rest during the day, including a continuous night's sleep. Weekly rest: 25 consecutive hours. The day is set in the contract. If the caregiver works that day by agreement, the extra pay required by law is due. On the rest day the caregiver may stay in the home or leave it, by free choice.

4. How do you set expectations on the first day? #

• Set a steady daily order: waking, meals, washing, and medicines.
• Write a clear, reasonable list of daily and weekly tasks together.
• Explain what the patient can do alone and what needs help.
• Keep a respectful, human manner.

A clear role is what keeps the employment stable. Contact Yad Harutzim — your specialists for safe, lawful employment.