The comfort and safety needs of seniors may evolve in ways that are sometimes hard to predict and manage—especially at night. For example, sudden nighttime waking, frequent daytime naps, and shifts in the body’s natural rhythms can cause sleep problems and can result in anxiety, stress, wandering, or accidents and falls.

Overnight home care from a professional agency can be an option—or sometimes a necessity.

Studies show that between 40% and 70% of seniors have sleep problems, at least half of which are undiagnosed. Common issues include:

• Insomnia
• Overnight urination
• Pain
• Sleep apnea
• Restless leg syndrome
• REM sleep behavior disorder

You and other family members can also lose sleep tending your loved one. If your sleep quality is deteriorating or you are worried about a loved one in the evenings, it may be time to consider overnight home care.

Signs Your Senior Might Need Overnight Care

When a loved one and you are accustomed to your independence, asking for professional support can be challenging. However, overnight care can be essential for them to stay healthy and safe.

Consider senior care if your aging loved one experiences the following:

• Forgetfulness
• Falls
• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Mobility changes
• Nighttime wandering
• Personality changes
• Sleeping too much during the day

These issues can be caused by aging, health conditions such as dementia, and medication side effects. You may try to work around nocturnal restlessness by waking when your senior does—but this shortchanges your sleep patterns and can lead to caregiver burnout.

Remember, you can’t care for your loved one if you are exhausted or sick. Seek professional caregiver support from a reputable company like Visiting Angels.

Related reading: Getting a Good Night Sleep Is Important for Senior Health

Overnight or 24/7: How Visiting Angels Can Help

Overnight care involves a professional in-home caregiver who arrives in the evening to help your senior prepare for bed. After bed, they’ll monitor your senior to help with:

• Fall prevention
• Incontinence
• Memory issues
• Mobility
• Restroom use

While your loved one rests, their caregiver can handle tasks such as folding laundry and other light housekeeping, but their priority is your loved one. In the morning, the caregiver will help your senior wake up and prepare for the day, which may include eating breakfast, bathing, and dressing.

24/7 care may be more appropriate if you have significant all-day concerns about your senior. Through 24/7 care, teams of two to three caregivers work in shifts so your loved one is never alone while you are at work, tending to your family, or getting much-needed sleep.

Visiting Angels caregivers are carefully matched to each client to ensure they have the skills and personality to establish an ideal fit. A care coordinator will discuss every scenario to ensure your loved one is always safe.

Related reading: How Caregivers Can Help Reduce Elderly Anxiety at Night

Your Eyes and Ears All Night Long

Hiring a professional caregiver can help prevent falls, loneliness, and wandering at night. Visiting Angels can offer you peace of mind—and a good night’s sleep—while keeping your senior safe and comfortable at home. We’ll be your eyes and ears overnight, observing and reporting anything that needs to be addressed.

Contact us today to learn how we can help make nights more peaceful for your senior and you.