I live with a lady that I'm more and more each day taking more care of. I was coming once a week to clean one bathroom and sweep and mop all floors. The agreement was i would still do the same work and just be here and help her in exchange for rent (I sold my house). But I also try to have an income because I need things and I have bills. She goes to bed between 7-9 pm and locks her doors. Now if I'm out working and not in here by the time the doors are locked then it's too bad for me. I don't have a key though she has said for 7 months she was going to have one made. She just comes on in the room I sleep in I have no privacy. What are my rights as far as privacy and being locked out??? Help me please
As for legal rights, check into squatter rights in your area. If you've been there for 7 months, those should be applicable. Those give you pretty much the same rights as any tenant. Getting locked out is definitely in violation of those rights.
As far as working, you'll have to ask for a contract from her. You may need to do the legwork on that with finding the info for your state and how to do it if she is not good with organizing things like that. But you might be better off just preparing to get another place to live and a regular job. It's what I would do.
But first I would get a copy of the key. Could be a gray area legally (taking the key) but she can't lock you out.
As usual these live in the home rent free , situations do not work . It always results in mission creep , and often lack of privacy or respect as well for the caregiver.
Move out.
If there's no written contract, there are no "rights". However... if your mail goes to that house, then it is your legal residence. Is that address on your DL? If so, it's your legal residence and she can't deny it. She would have to evict you to get you out. As far as any other "rights" inside the home: you may need to consult with a pro bono legal aid society that centers on renter's rights.
But I would start looking for a new place to live asap (and don't tell her you're looking) AND a new job OR after you move out you present a written work agreement that limits you to 40 hrs per week and states an hourly wage and she is basically a formal employer and must therefore provide you with a W2 at the end of the year a perform tax withholding on each payroll. If this isn't happening then you are robbing yourself of SS income and possible Medicare because you need to have at least 40 recorded quarters of work history (that's 10 years) in order to get that benefit. She's gonna hate that so just find a real job that doesn't abuse you.
There is currently a labor shortage in the US and you could easily work for an agency and get FT hrs and maybe even benefits, plus protection from predatory people like your current "client". Or find contract work through Care.com that is in your favor.
Right now if I were you I'd sneak her house key off the chain and make a copy at a hardware store so that she can't lock you out. She sounds either mentally ill or descending into dementia since this is unreasonable and irrational. And as others have pointed out, it WILL only get worse.
Caregiving isn't going to become easier as this person gets older.
What was your original plan for living arrangements after you sold your house?