A night care assistant is a professional carer who stays with your loved one in their own home overnight to provide dedicated support. The night care professional can assist your loved one with various tasks, such as getting in and out of bed safely, providing personal care, and assisting with medication.
Overnight care is usually split into two categories: Sleeping Nights and Waking Nights. This blog post will explain the difference and describe 5 common signs that mean you should consider organising support from a professional care assistant.
Understanding the night care assistant job description is key to seeing its value. A carer’s primary role is to provide essential support throughout the night, ensuring the safety and comfort of clients. The specific duties vary based on the level of care needed.
Overnight care can range from being on-hand to help with toilet visits to providing constant supervision for those with more complex needs. The goal of all night care work is to provide peace of mind for both the person receiving care and their family members.
A carer is there to assist clients with mobility, repositioning in bed to prevent sores, and to be a reassuring presence. They also provide crucial companionship and emotional reassurance if your loved one wakes up feeling anxious or disoriented.
Unlike in a residential care home, this overnight care is one-to-one, allowing for a highly personalised care plan. Ultimately, the job of a night carer is to ensure the night passes safely and comfortably, allowing your loved one to get the rest they need to maintain their quality of life.
A sleeping night is where the carer supports your loved one in the evening, sleeps in a different room, and then helps again in the morning. This service is for people who are worried an accident might happen or who need occasional help. If you need assistance during the night, you can call for the carer. Many families use a simple alarm system to alert the carer that help is needed.
A waking night is when the carer does not sleep. This service is best for people who get up multiple times or who can't call out for help and need a carer to respond quickly. For example, a carer may need to be awake for administering medication to treat a seizure, as prescribed by a doctor.
The carer will either stay in the bedroom or in a nearby room. This service is also a suitable substitute if you don't have a spare room for a carer to sleep in. Each hour is dedicated to providing attentive support.
One of the most common signs you need a nighttime care assistant is if your loved one gets up multiple times to use the bathroom (nocturia). Nocturia increases the risk of falls by 20% and fractures by 32% among older people. This is because it’s easier to trip in the dark.
Falls are a leading cause of hospitalisation and can lead to further complications. Having a carer present to help your loved one to the bathroom will significantly improve their safety and reduce their risk of injury, helping them stay out of the hospital. This essential support can make all the difference.
This is another common reason for needing help. If a primary carer, whether a professional or a family member, is getting up regularly every night, they won't get enough sleep and won’t be able to perform well during the day. Their well-being and the quality of care they provide will be compromised. This is true for professional live-in carers, as we all need at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
If a live-in carer is waking up regularly, they will likely ask you to find a night care assistant to ensure they can continue to do their job safely and effectively. Everyone involved in providing care must be well-rested to deliver quality care. It often takes a team to provide care on a full time basis.
Wandering is a symptom of dementia and often happens at night. People with a dementia diagnosis may wander because they are frightened, stressed, or feeling abandoned. These feelings are often heightened in the dark. Many families believe their only option is to move their loved one into a care home when this starts, but that isn't true.
Our night care assistant jobs are filled by professionals trained to assist people with dementia. They can help ensure your loved one is safe and does not leave the house. A compassionate carer can provide reassurance and a sense of security, which is vital for managing difficult symptoms and supporting good mental health.
Several medical conditions require a trained person to be present while someone sleeps. While a qualified nurse is needed for rare cases involving emergency intravenous medication, a trained night carer can provide the necessary support in most other situations. This includes helping with oral medications as prescribed by a doctor.
Often, family members first try to provide this support themselves. By organising a nighttime service, family members can rest and focus on other commitments, knowing their loved one is safe and has the support they need. We are committed to providing this vital service.
An older person living alone can find it frightening to sleep in an empty house. They might worry about how they would escape during a fire or what they would do during a burglary. They may also feel lonely, and loneliness has been shown to increase the risk of dementia, stroke, and heart disease.
By organising night care, your loved one will receive crucial social support and feel less anxious. This support brings a feeling of security and helps alleviate the loneliness that can be so damaging to a person's well-being.
Night care assistants can provide sleeping or waking night services. Organising person-centred care and support can lead to improved health outcomes, particularly for those with nocturia, dementia, a high risk of a medical event, or anxiety. It is also vital that a primary carer gets enough sleep.
If you recognise any of these signs, it may be time to consider professional home care at night. Our compassionate and welcoming team is ready to help you find a solution that fits your family’s needs. Contact us today for a friendly chat about how we can support your loved one.
A night care assistant is a professional who provides care and supervision to a person in their own home throughout the night. Their role is to ensure the client's safety, comfort, and well-being, offering assistance with mobility, personal care, and medication as needed. It's a role that requires a calm and reassuring presence. There are many care assistant jobs available, but night care is a specialism.
The role of a senior care assistant often involves more responsibility than that of a care assistant. A senior care assistant may be responsible for creating and reviewing care plans, liaising with medical professionals and family members, and mentoring other carers. They are often the point of contact for the wider care team. Their experience is crucial in ensuring the seamless delivery of high-quality care for residents or clients with complex needs.
A great support worker needs a combination of practical skills and personal qualities. They must be reliable, patient, and empathetic. Good communication skills are essential for interacting with clients and their families. Practical skills include knowledge of first aid, manual handling, and assisting with medication. Many assistant jobs in care, including night care assistant jobs, also benefit from the holder having a driving licence for added flexibility, though it's not always a requirement for our roles on site. Above all, they must be part of a welcoming team providing physical and emotional comfort.
Yes, we are proud to offer our professional night care services across London. If you are ready to join our community of supported families, please get in touch. We can discuss your needs and begin the process of matching you with the perfect carer to support your loved one.
Get in touch with Tiggo Care today to see how we can help you or your loved one.
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