Overnight care can be highly beneficial to seniors for a variety of reasons. Everyone knows the importance of a good night’s sleep for maintaining health and having the energy to carry out daily tasks and activities. However, a night of uninterrupted sleep can become more challenging with age.
Trouble Sleeping for Seniors
Many older adults report difficulty falling asleep and problems staying asleep once they have finally nodded off. Regular sleep disturbance can be very concerning for seniors without the proper assistance. It can shatter confidence and feelings of independence. It can also lead to a range of other health issues, both mental and physical.
Home Care Services
Home care services are becoming more popular with older adults as seniors attempt to navigate the Canadian public health care system that often neglects to provide them with the assistance and support they need.
As care needs increase over time for seniors living at home, different options can be explored to ensure those requirements are met daily.
What is Overnight Care?
Overnight care is available when a more comprehensive or frequent level of care is needed to assist with daily routines and help prevent illness and injury. Certain conditions like dementia, sleep disorders, frailty, and other mobility issues can cause frustration and health hazards without nighttime supervision.
Overnight care can help bring peace of mind to the elderly and their families. Having someone there to deal with issues that may arise overnight or provide companionship and support can make a huge difference.
Benefits of Overnight Care
There are several overnight care services available for seniors and their families.
Overnight caregivers can assist with things like:
- Falls and fall prevention
- Personal care
- Dementia
- Companion care
- Respite care
Falls and Fall Prevention
Falls in the home are always a concern for seniors and the most common cause of injury and hospitalization for older adults.
Seniors that need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom or get a drink of water may not be in the most alert state, making an accident more likely. The fear of falling can be magnified without anyone around to help in an emergency. Then, if a fall occurs, there will be no immediate assistance, which can exacerbate the situation.
Overnight caregivers can help make the home safer for fall prevention and will be ready to assist with any late-night trips to the bathroom or whatever else may be needed.
Personal Care
It is common for most people to get up to go to the bathroom at least once at night. This becomes more frequent with age. Overnight caregivers will assist your loved one with bathroom or toileting needs at night to reduce stress and potential injury. They can also assist with any other aspects of personal hygiene that may be helpful or necessary.
Dementia
Seniors with dementia may experience exaggerated or intensified symptoms after dark. This is referred to as sundowning. Sundowning is a symptom of dementia that causes sufferers to become more agitated or confused after the sun goes down. This can lead to problematic sleep issues like wandering at night or waking up disoriented.
Overnight caregivers can help prevent wandering and provide late-night companionship for those with trouble sleeping.
Companion Care
Seniors experiencing sleep complications at night can benefit from having a late-night companion to talk to. Family caregivers are unlikely to be able to offer this level of comfort as most have full-time jobs and need a whole night’s sleep themselves to tackle the next day.
Respite Care
Respite care is offered to provide relief or a break for regular or family caregivers. Family caregivers can’t do it all alone, especially if care is required daily and at night.
Overnight caregivers can provide respite care at night for family caregivers assisting a loved one throughout the day. This helps prevent caregiver burnout and provides variety in care for your loved one.
Overnight Care Services Kitchener – Waterloo – Cambridge
Promyse Home Care is a professional home care agency offering a diverse range of services for seniors who wish to continue living at home but may need assistance.
Promyse caregivers are available for your loved one round-the-clock, whether during the day or overnight care. Having around-the-clock care for your parent or loved one reduces the risks of falls and provides peace of mind and a sense of security knowing that someone is there for them in the home.
