Care process
Overnight care shift
An overnight care shift is a caregiver shift that covers the night hours. The caregiver may stay awake or may rest in the home and respond when needed. Terms vary by provider, so families should ask what the caregiver is expected to do.
Why it matters for your family
Night is a risky time for people with dementia, fall risk or toileting needs. An overnight shift gives family a chance to sleep. Providers set it up in different ways, such as an awake overnight caregiver or a caregiver who rests nearby. HomeCare.com says overnights are available with live-in care, but may be limited, and that its 24-hour care uses multiple caregivers in shifts. A common mistake is to assume the caregiver can do heavy lifting alone at 3 a.m. Ask about transfers, toileting and wandering plans. Agree on when to wake family. Overnight care is non-medical. Call 911 for an emergency.
Source: nia.nih.gov
Related terms
- ShiftA shift is a set block of time when a caregiver works with a client.
- Overnight careOvernight care is home care provided during the night.
- Live-in careLive-in care is home care in which one caregiver lives in the client's home and supports them through the day and night.
- 24-hour care24-hour care is home care in which a caregiver is awake and on duty at all times, usually through several caregivers working shifts.
- SundowningSundowning is increased confusion, anxiety, or agitation that some people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia feel from late afternoon through night.
- WanderingWandering is when a person with dementia leaves a safe place or walks around without a clear purpose and may become lost.
