The terms ‘sleeping night care’ and ‘waking night care’ can be confusing and difficult to differentiate for many people. This page explains the differences between the two and in what circumstances each of the services is most helpful to you or your loved one.
A restful night’s sleep is the foundation of good health, something that everyone deserves. Home care support, such as that offered by Country Cousins, provides sleeping night care and waking night care in your home so you can rest peacefully knowing you are safe, in good hands, and surrounded by support whenever you need it.
What is sleep-in care?
‘Sleep-in care’ or ‘sleeping night care’ is when a professional carer sleeps in your home during the night (for a minimum of 8 hours agreed in advance by the client) so that they can be woken up quickly to respond to any unforeseen needs that you may have during the night.
With sleep-in care it is expected that the carer may not need to be woken at all, being woken up occasionally or maybe once a night is acceptable. The professional sleep-in carer is available to be woken up for any unforeseen circumstances, such as going to the toilet. If predicted and frequent nighttime support is needed, then waking night care is more suitable.
What is waking night care?
Waking night care, sometimes called ‘wake-in night care’ describes a professional carer who is awake on shift at your home during the night ready to provide care and support throughout the night. A waking night shift is usually for a minimum of 8 hours, maybe more, and is agreed upon in advance with the client.
With waking night care, the carer will be awake all night to attend to any needs. This provides a level of safety, comfort, and support to people who are unsettled in the nighttime or who have complex health needs that require 24-hour care. In this scenario, typically, there will be one day-time carer and one night-time carer, so there is always someone on hand ready to help 24 hours a day who is well-slept and refreshed.
What’s the difference between sleep-in care and waking night care?
The main difference between sleeping night care and waking night care is whether the carer is actively awake and on shift or sleeping and available to be woken up.
Sleeping night care is provided throughout the night which means the carer will be asleep but available to be woken up for any unforeseen nighttime care and support. Waking night care describes a carer on shift and awake all through the night to assist with any care and support needs.
Which one is right for you and your needs?
Overnight care at home, whether it be sleeping night care or waking night care, gives you complete reassurance during the night knowing that you are safe and cared for. Being able to get a restful night’s sleep is critical for health, no matter what age. With overnight care, you will never be alone and can rest assured that help and support is on hand any time you need it.
Deciding which type of overnight care is best for you or your loved one really depends on the level of support that is needed;
Sleeping night care:
This option will suit if you don’t require regular night-time support but feel uncomfortable when left alone throughout the night or occasionally have nighttime needs such as waking to go to the bathroom.
Night-time anxieties and sleep deprivation can soon be improved with a sleeping night carer by your side. If assistance is needed more than twice during the night, it is usually considered a waking night and may be charged accordingly, depending on the arrangement with your home care agency.
Waking night care:
This is the best care option if you or a loved one wakes several times perhaps due to wandering, being disorientated, or needing to go to the bathroom. It is also fitting if you or your loved one wake at regular intervals during the night to change position due to injury, or if you have to administer medication at regular intervals, this is likely to be the best choice for you.
The waking night care professional is there at your side as and when you need them for the duration of the night, providing a high level of expert support so you can rest easy knowing you are in good hands.
If you or a loved one could benefit from overnight care at home but are not sure which option suits you best, do not worry. Country Cousins can match you with an experienced and trained overnight carer. If your needs change, our team of Client Relationship Executives is here to help arrange the right live-in care for you.
How to arrange sleeping night care or waking night care
At Country Cousins, we have been providing high-quality live-in care for over 60 years. The highly trained and compassionate carers we work with are matched to clients based on their experience, training, and personality, so you know that you are getting the right carer for your needs.
Arranging home care is easy with Country Cousins. Simply give our friendly care team a call so that we can advise and recommend the most suitable care for your personal circumstances. We offer a free enquiry service with no obligations, so do not hesitate to get in touch.
If you would like to find out how we can help you or your loved one get sleeping night care or waking night care, get in touch with us today on 01293 224706. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am-6pm. Alternatively, complete our enquiry form.
