Definition of Waking Night Care
Waking night care is a care service provided by an overnight carer in the familiarity of an individual’s home. For most people, the need for enhanced support during the night is a necessity due to complex care needs, short-term conditions and age-related challenges. This form of care ensures the safety and comfort of people throughout the night.
Waking night care provides people with certain health conditions and challenges professional support throughout the night. This type of service focuses on delivering support in cases of physical or emotional need or challenges during the night. Access to overnight care at home allows people with complex needs to stay in familiar surroundings, supported by their family members and loved ones.
Rather than staying in a residential home, a waking night support worker can meet people’s nighttime care requirements at home and help people gain independence and become fully integrated community members.
Difference Between Waking Night Care and Other Forms of Care
A waking night carer constantly supports people throughout the night, and their role is to cater to every individual’s needs during the night. The duties of a waking night carer vary from helping people change positions during the night to providing medication, supporting the individual to the bathroom, and more.
A waking night live-in carer will provide support and care during the night, and unlike a sleeping night carer – waking night carers usually don’t sleep at all. These carers will also help with other domestic duties in the quiet night, such as cleaning, tidying up and doing the laundry.
Difference Between Waking and Sleeping Night Care
Sleeping night care and waking night care are two different approaches that offer a type of support and assistance during the night.
Sleeping night care involves a dedicated carer who will remain in the person’s home and provide support during the night as a trained professional who can offer reassurance and comfort if needed. Sleeping night carers provide assistance during the daytime, allowing for peace of mind by being present and reliable. This type of service is usually optimal for people who require less frequent nighttime care, and carers typically sleep in separate rooms. However, the rooms have rapid response monitoring devices and call buttons for immediate help.
On the other hand, waking night care involves a highly trained overnight caregiver who is alert throughout the night and monitors well-being and changes in care requirements. Usually, people with complex care needs, such as people with dementia or people in end-of-life care, will benefit the most from waking nights care. Overnight care services provide proactive support and help with toileting, domestic duties, and medication administration, all while remaining close to the individual and being prepared to respond immediately if needed.
The Impact of Quality Sleep on Health
Good quality sleep is essential. Having a good night’s sleep helps enhance and improve cognitive functioning, helps people think more clearly, and reduces the symptoms of specific mental health challenges which is why waking night care is important.
Sleep is essential for the physical capabilities of the human body as well as for the mind. People who get a good night’s sleep often have a better metabolism, more energy, better mood and even clearer skin. Still, more importantly, improved sleep patterns are known to decrease the need for medication usage. The general recommendations are that people should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep contributes to low energy, exhaustion, brain fog and other physical health challenges.
How Waking Night Care Supports Individuals
Waking night carers will perform various caring duties during the night. Caregivers remain awake even if the individual they care for is asleep. When the care recipient is awake, the waking night carer will provide assistance and support according to the personalised care plan.
Some of the responsibilities of night carers support people include:
- Checking vital signs
- Helping people go to the toilet
- Personal care support
- Administer medication
- Performing various domestic duties
- Provide companionship
- Monitor health changes
Personalised Care Plans
Personalised care plans are essential to providing high-quality, proactive care. Person-centred care planning promotes human rights and the liberty of choice by putting people’s needs at the core of delivering care and support.
One of the benefits of waking night care is the focus on people and their strengths instead of seeing people as “patients” who require constant monitoring. Caregivers see people for who they are, and they learn so much from them and how they can help people live fulfilling lives. Personalised care plans allow for more inclusive treatment options and focus on people’s overall well-being and reaching positive outcomes while improving the quality of life.
Monitoring and Addressing Specific Sleep-Related Needs
Monitoring vital signs is a crucial element when providing overnight care. An overnight carer is highly trained to monitor pulse, heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure changes. Moreover, a waking night carer is highly trained and ready to provide first aid support in emergencies and also provides maximised safety by imposing various security measures. They also provide mobility support so that people can be safe and protected at all times during the night.
Providing Comfort and Reassurance During the Night
Our clinicians understand the importance of a good night’s sleep. Overnight carers promote restful and comforting sleep by providing person-centred support and care. They understand that comfort and reassurance are vital to well-being and improving outcomes.
The Positive Impact of Waking Night Care
Waking night care offers many advantages for people who require support during the night. This approach revolves around delivering personalised care tailored to the individual’s needs and providing support by following people’s preferences and routines.
One of the most significant impacts of waking night care is the comfort it provides by allowing people to remain in their own home, surrounded by their closest family members, friends and loved ones. Staying in a familiar environment promotes continuity of care but also focuses on the serenity and comfort people receive when surrounded by loving memories and people they love.
One of the most essential components of this approach is family involvement, as it enables loved ones to tightly collaborate with the caregivers, which helps to foster a sense of inclusivity and belonging. Choosing waking night care is also one of the more cost-effective solutions which help families navigate budgets more efficiently without risking high institutional expenses.
Waking Night Care With Unique Community Services
Providing waking night care is crucial to ensure that people who require care and support and their families have peace of mind and consistency to improve their quality of life. This approach promotes security, trust and individualised care that follows the principles of person-centred, holistic support.
Through the presence of our highly trained clinicians, Unique Community Services addresses all the needs of the people we support, as well as provide emotional reassurance and comfort. Our night care services are focused on increasing people’s quality of life and providing cost-effective and safe care alternatives.
If you require support and care or know someone who does, contact us today through one of our offices in Manchester, Bristol, or Leeds.
