Nighttime can be a vulnerable time for elderly people who live alone. Common concerns surround falls, confusion in the dark, the need to go to the toilet, when medication is required and quite simply, loneliness. Overnight care can help seniors stay safe and comfortable in their own home, day and night.
What overnight care means
Overnight care means that a carer will stay in the home overnight, typically for between eight and ten hours to cover the sleep period. It is designed for people who are vulnerable, have dementia, or need assistance with mobility, medication or toileting. It is an alternative to a hospital visit to provide additional support at night time. Overnight care can be tailored to meet your needs, from occasional help to constant supervision.
Types of overnight care
Sleep in care – the carer is present and available if they are needed at night. They are on-call for help or to reassure the elderly person that someone is there.
Waking night care – the carer will stay awake all night in waking night care and they actively monitor the person throughout the night. They can provide frequent support e.g. turning a person over, managing pain, etc.
Sitting service – this is similar to respite care, where a new carer sits in to relieve a live in carer.
Live in care – the carers or team of carers provide around-the-clock support for older people with more complex needs. Jothno Care and Support can provide 24/7 live in care, 365 days of the year.
Sleep in care and live in care are suitable where occasional reassurance and support is required. Waking night care is used when the needs are more complex and continuous monitoring is required.
Signs overnight care might be needed
We are often asked whether overnight care is necessary. An assessment of whether overnight care is needed often looks at various factors:
Is there frequent overnight waking?
Is there difficulty getting to the bathroom safely?
Is there confusion, anxiety or wandering at night?
Has there been a fall, illness or surgery?
Are there family caregivers who are exhausted and need support?
The benefits of overnight care
Overnight care can reduce the risk of falls and accidents. By accompanying the senior person to the toilet, upstairs or downstairs at night when light is low and confusion may be higher, there is less chance of a fall.
Care at night provides the senior with reassurance that they are not alone. It can provide companionship when an elderly person is not able to get to sleep or stay asleep at night. They feel cared for and safer.
Overnight carers can assist with incontinence care, changing pads and bed mats, and helping the senior person to get to the toilet when they need it. Medication for incontinence can also be managed by the carer, avoiding errors.
Professional support can help family members and primary carers who may be caring for the elderly throughout the day in addition to living their own lives and managing their own household.
Overnight care can help an older person to stay in their own home for longer, rather than having to move into residential care and away from their familiar surroundings. The service provides an economic alternative to a care home.
What does an overnight carer do?
Overnight carers can help with bedtime routines, getting ready for bed by brushing teeth, hair care, going to the toilet, changing into pajamas, etc.
During the night, carers can help with toilet support, helping an older person to walk to the toilet, or wheeling them in a wheelchair. Carers can also change bed sheets, incontinence pads, and bed pans, where needed.
Repositioning during the night can prevent bed sores and discomfort for an elderly person, so the carers will assist with movement in bed too. They can also manage medication, measuring doses and keeping to prescription instructions.
Carers will respond to calls of distress, anxiety and confusion and reassure them that they are safe, providing any assistance they need when called.
Choosing the right type of support
We’ve written before about the different types of care that are available for seniors in London. In order to choose the best type of care, consider the needs of the person who needs help; whether they need mobility assistance, if they have dementia or experience disrupted sleep patterns, and their medical needs.
Think about whether the elderly person needs occasional help or active monitoring all the time. A care assessment can help your family decide what is the best type of care to choose. The care co-ordinators at Jothno Care and Support can help advise on how to get a care assessment done.
Families choose Jothno Care and Support because we have a reputation for compassionate, personalised care. Our service has been rated Good by the Care Quality Commission. We are specialists in arranging culturally diverse care and do our best to match a carer to the family. As South Asians, we are aware of the cultural tradition around caring for our elders. We work to provide dignity, independence, and reassurance. Overnight care is just one of our home care services and we can tailor a plan that will provide your loved one with continuity of care. Book a free assessment for your care needs.
Overnight care makes nights safer
Overnight care can make nights safer and less stressful for everyone involved. For the senior person, they provide reassurance and security. For the family, we can improve rest and recovery so that care can continue the next day. Bringing in professional carers is part of caring for our elders. It can help seniors to remain at home for longer, comfortable and secure in familiar surroundings.