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Growing old is a certainty of life, but it is not something that we like to think of when it comes to our loved ones. Elderly care is a broad industry, and every patient requires a different level of care, from in-home support to full nursing facilities.
One of the most common forms of elderly care is an assisted living community, with the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) stating that there are over 835,000 Americans currently residing in one. While for some residents, an assisted living facility is a permanent stay, for others, it can be a temporary solution following an injury.
Typically, seniors will require additional support during these short-stays and may require overnight care during their rehabilitation. Of course, sometimes overnight care can be necessary on a more long-term basis too.
What is overnight care for the elderly?
Overnight care for elderly people is exactly as it sounds and sees the resident receiving support and care from late in the evening until the early morning. Typically, the fully trained caregiver will be on hand to help with things such as dressing and undressing, toileting, and getting around their apartment. The caregiver will also be on hand to help with any night time restlessness or ‘sundowning’, which sees the patient experiencing confusion and anxiety.
Overnight care is a particularly popular choice for those elderly patients who still have the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks but are in need of additional support for some activities. In some cases, the patient might not need constant monitoring, meaning the caregiver will not always need to be awake and alert.
Contrary to 24 hour care, which provides around-the-clock companionship and assistance, overnight care is known as ‘sleeping night care’ because the caretaker will only be needed for things such as helping them get to the toilet, etc. This is the cheapest form of overnight care for elderly patients and is considerably lower than the more in-depth waking care.
When is overnight care necessary?
Overnight care for the elderly is designed to help ensure they are able to get the best night’s sleep possible while also giving family members peace of mind their loved one is safe. There are many reasons why someone might need overnight care, from injury and post-surgery requirements to anxiety about being alone at night. Some of the most common reasons for needing overnight care include:
Short-term care
Short-term overnight care is utilized for those periods of time where the patient will not be able to look after themselves as they would normally. This could be due to an illness that has left them weak or an injury that has rendered them incapacitated while they recover.
Short-term care might also be required following a surgery that has left the patient bedridden for an extended period of time
To replace regular caretakers
Another common reason for requiring overnight care is when a patient’s regular caretaker takes a break. Looking after elderly loved ones can be a very physically and mentally draining career, and carers can become overwhelmed.
Hiring overnight care allows them to take some much-needed rest, ensuring they are always able to provide the very highest level of care.
Worsening symptoms
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Some illnesses, such as dementia, can see periods of worsening symptoms that leave them aggressive or unable to make decisions. Equally, other common senior illnesses such as Parkinson’s or MS can increase in severity over time and require more around-the-clock levels of care. When you can’t care for a parent or family member any longer, it’s important to seek assistance. Sometimes once symptoms progress to a certain severity, it is best to consider assisted living care for the best standard of living.
Long-term care
As our loved one’s age, many family members will try to provide as much care as possible, but eventually, the care required will exceed what is possible. Overnight care helps to keep loved ones safe and gives family members complete peace of mind.
How much does overnight care cost?
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Caring for your loved ones can be a very time-consuming process, and seeking professional elderly care services can be a costly process. Overnight care costs vary considerably depending on the level of care required and the location. All-night care, known as waking night care, is the most expensive as it the most specialist, while sleeping night care is the most affordable.
Overnight care can range in prices, but typically it will be somewhere in the region of $120 to $200. As these services require basic levels of care, for a short period of time, they can be paid for in a range of ways, including from savings and insurance.
How Suncrest Senior Living can help you
Here at Suncrest, we are a group of four Oakland County senior living facilities, providing tailored care for each of our residents. We provide a range of specialist services and we pride ourselves on offering a homey and comfortable environment, so if you want to find out how we can help you, get in touch today.
Suncrest Senior Living
This information was provided by Suncrest Senior Living. Suncrest offers memory care and assisted living care with several home-based locations in Southeast Michigan.
Interested in learning more about Suncrest Senior Living? Contact Suncrest online, or call at (248) 207-5378.
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PHONE: (248) 207-5378