Overnight care can be extremely beneficial for seniors for a variety of reasons. Everyone knows about the importance of a good night sleep for maintaining health and to have energy to carry out daily tasks and activities. However, an uninterrupted night of sleep can become more difficult to achieve with age.
A significant number of older adults report difficulty falling asleep, and problems staying asleep once they have finally nodded off. Regular sleep disturbance can be a very concerning issue for seniors without the right 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 are becoming more popular with older adults all the time as seniors attempt to navigate their way through the Canadian public health care system that often neglects to provide them with the assistance and support they need.Â
As care needs increase over time for seniors living at home different options can be explored to ensure those requirements are being met on a daily basis.
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 with no night time 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 just to provide companionship and support, can make a huge difference.
There are several overnight care services available for seniors and their families.
Overnight caregivers can assist with things like:
Falls in the home are always a concern for seniors, being 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. Without anyone around to help or be there in case of emergency, the fear of falling can be magnified. Then, if a fall does occur 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.
It is common for most people to get up to go to the bathroom at least once during the night. This becomes more frequent with age. Overnight caregivers will be there to assist your loved one with any bathroom or toileting needs during the night to reduce stress and potential injury. They can also assist with any other aspects of personal hygiene that may be helpful or necessary.
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 that are having trouble sleeping.
Seniors that are experiencing sleep complications at night can really 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 full night’s sleep themselves to tackle the next day.
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 both during the day and at night.
Overnight caregivers can provide respite care at night for family caregivers that are assisting a loved one throughout the day. This helps prevent caregiver burnout, and provides some variety in care for your loved one.
Promyse Home Care is a professional home care agency that offers a diverse range of services for seniors that wish to continue living at home, but may need some assistance.
 Promyse caregivers are available for your loved one round-the-clock, whether it be care during the day, or for overnight care. Overnight care often involves a professional caregiver staying with your loved one for a 24-hour period. This be something that is required once or twice a week or is needed full time on a daily basis.
We service all of Waterloo Region & surrounding areas.
