Night Care at Home
Sleep-In and Waking Night Support
Overnight care is planned around how much support is needed at night, from a carer sleeping in the home to active waking-night care. We assess the right pattern and explain whether sleep-in, waking-night, or another arrangement is the safest fit.
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Understanding your options
What's the difference?
sleep-in care
What Is Sleep-In Care?
A carer stays overnight in the person's home and has suitable sleeping accommodation. The carer is not expected to remain awake throughout the night.
The care plan sets out what brief assistance may reasonably be required, and what would trigger a review if more active night support is now needed.
Waking-night care
What Is Waking Night Care?
The carer remains awake and available during the agreed night hours, appropriate where support is needed regularly or unpredictably through the night.
Tasks can include agreed personal care, toileting, repositioning, reassurance, observation or medication support, where these are assessed and the carer is trained and authorised.
Quick reassurance
Two ways to arrange overnight support
Sleep-in care
A carer stays overnight and sleeps, with agreed support if needed.
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Waking-night care
A carer remains awake and available throughout the agreed night period.
Care based on need
The right arrangement depends on how often and how long support is required.
Works with wider care
Night care can sit alongside visiting or live-in care where appropriate.
Making the right choice
Which Type of Night Care Is Right?
The decision should be based on the actual pattern of need, not simply a preference for one label. We consider:
How often support is required
How long support lasts
Whether the person can call for help
Mobility
Continence
Falls risk
Cognitive needs
Any treatment requirements
night care and dementia
Reassurance and safety through the night
Some people living with dementia experience increased confusion, anxiety, wandering or disrupted sleep at night. Night support may provide reassurance and help maintain safety, but the care plan should be based on the individual and the pattern of need, not a general assumption.
Read more about our Dementia Care →A common question
Night Care and Live-In Care
These are not the same arrangement, worth being clear about it, since the two are easy to mix up.
Live-in care
A live-in carer normally sleeps at night, in the home, as part of an ongoing daytime and overnight presence.
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Waking-night care
A dedicated carer stays awake and available specifically to provide active support through the night.
If a live-in carer is repeatedly woken or needs to stay awake for long periods, the arrangement should be reviewed and additional night support considered. Read more about our Live-in Care →
How Night Care Is Arranged
A five-step process
1
Talk to us
Tell us what happens during the night.
2
We assess
We assess the frequency, duration and type of support required.
3
We agree the arrangement
We agree on a care plan that sets out what support will be provided and how.
4
The care plan is set
The care plan sets out the tasks, risks and escalation arrangements.
5
We review as needs change
We review the package if night-time needs change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your night care questions answered
What is the difference between sleep-in and waking-night care?
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Is live-in care the same as waking-night care?
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Can a night carer help with medication?
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Can night care include repositioning?
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How much does night care cost?
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Ready when you are
You don't need to work out the exact service first
Tell us what is happening, what support is needed, and what matters to the person. We'll talk it through and discuss the appropriate next step.
There is no charge for the assessment and no obligation to proceed.
