Overnight care at home
A carer stays through the night so your relative is safe and settled, and the family can sleep. Choose a sleeping night or a waking night, depending on how much help is needed.
What is overnight care?
Overnight care means a carer arrives in the evening, helps your relative get ready for bed, stays through the night, and helps them start the morning. It is for people who manage well in the day, or have other help in the day, but are not safe or settled on their own at night.
Sleeping nights and waking nights
Sleeping night
The carer sleeps in a bedroom in your home and is there if needed, for example for an occasional trip to the toilet or reassurance after a bad dream. It suits people who usually sleep through but should not be alone.
Waking night
The carer stays awake all night, ready to help at any time. It suits people who need help several times a night, need turning or repositioning, or wander at night.
If help is needed more than occasionally, a waking night is the safer choice, because a carer who is woken repeatedly can't rest.
What a night looks like
You agree the routine with your carer, but most nights follow the same shape:
- Evening: the carer arrives, helps with a drink or snack, medication prompts and getting ready for bed
- Through the night: on a sleeping night the carer sleeps and helps if needed; on a waking night they stay awake and check regularly
- Morning: help getting up and a calm start to the day, and a handover to family or the day carer
Preparing the home
- A bed or bedroom for a sleeping-night carer, near enough to hear your relative
- Night lights on the way to the toilet, and clear floors to reduce trips
- Somewhere comfortable to sit for a waking-night carer
- A note of the evening routine, medication times and who to call
When the days are fine but the nights are not
Families often look for overnight care when:
- Their relative has fallen at night, or is at risk of falling getting to the toilet
- Dementia brings confusion, restlessness or wandering after dark
- Continence care is needed during the night
- Someone has come home from hospital and needs watching overnight
- A family carer is exhausted from being up every night
Overnight care, live-in care or 24-hour care?
Overnight care covers the night only. Live-in care gives a carer in the home all day who sleeps at night. If help is needed day and night, 24-hour care with two carers means someone is always awake and available.
Choosing how many nights
You don't have to book every night. Some families start with the nights that are hardest, or the nights a family carer most needs to sleep, and add more if needed. If help is needed every night and through the day too, live-in care or 24-hour care may be simpler and better value.
What overnight care costs
The price depends on whether you need sleeping or waking nights, and how many nights a week. Tell us what you need and we'll confirm the price in writing before care starts. You pay LCH Care weekly in advance, and LCH Care pays your self-employed carer.
Paying for overnight care
Your council may help after a free needs assessment. Attendance Allowance is paid at a higher rate for people who need help both day and night. NHS Continuing Healthcare covers care needed mainly because of health needs.
How to arrange overnight care
Describe the nights
How often help is needed, what kind, and which nights of the week.
Sleeping or waking
We help you decide which suits, then send matching carer profiles.
Speak and choose
Talk to carers by phone or video call and choose who you want.
Nights begin
You and your carer agree the evening and morning routine.
How carers are checked
Before LCH Care introduces a carer, we check their identity, right to work in the UK, Enhanced DBS, two references, work history, and relevant training or qualifications. Carers also hold their own public liability insurance. You then speak to the carer by phone or video call before you agree to anything.
Other types of care
Questions
What is the difference between sleeping and waking night care?
On a sleeping night the carer sleeps in your home and helps if needed occasionally. On a waking night the carer stays awake all night, ready to help at any time.
How do I know if my relative needs overnight care?
Signs include falls or near misses at night, getting up confused, wandering, needing the toilet several times, or a family member who is no longer getting proper sleep.
Is overnight care suitable for someone with dementia?
Yes, it often is. Night-time confusion and restlessness are common with dementia. Some carers have dementia experience, and each carer's profile says what experience they have. The NHS has information on dementia.
How much does overnight care cost?
It depends on sleeping or waking nights and how many nights a week. Tell us what you need and we'll confirm the price in writing before care starts.
Can overnight care be combined with daytime visits?
Yes. Many families combine overnight care with hourly visits in the day. If help is needed day and night, live-in care or 24-hour care may be simpler.
Are there funding options for overnight care?
Your council may help after a needs assessment, Attendance Allowance has a higher rate for people who need help day and night, and NHS Continuing Healthcare covers care needed mainly for health reasons.
Can we book overnight care for just a few nights a week?
Yes. Tell us which nights you need and we'll send profiles of carers available for them.
Does a sleeping-night carer need a bed?
Yes. A sleeping-night carer needs somewhere to sleep, ideally a bedroom near your relative. A waking-night carer needs a comfortable place to sit.
What if more help is needed at night than we expected?
Tell us. If your relative needs help more than occasionally, a waking night is the safer choice.
Can overnight care give me, the family carer, a break?
Yes. Many family carers book overnight care so they can sleep properly a few nights a week.