Consequently, waking night support worker duties can include assistance in the toilet, making the bed, administration of medicine, checking vitals, etc. And in the case when the client is awake, the night care worker should provide assistance, as often as needed. The waking night care job description includes that the night support worker is awake the whole night even if the client is asleep. Related topic 9 Elderly Care Tips to Stay Safe at Home What Does a Waking Night Support Worker Do? It is suitable for clients who feel like they require a lot of assistance during the night, for example, they often wake up disoriented or need to go to the bathroom quite frequently. It is essentially a nightshift care job of a minimum of at least 8 hours, therefore, a waking night carer (sometimes referred to as overnight care provider, private night worker or simply night carer) needs to be awake and alert the entire night in case the client needs them. The meaning of waking nights for carers is to perform all of the caring duties and fulfil all the needs of the client during the night. You can read here to learn more about your legal rights. The overnight worker provides all the care needed for the elderly individual to be safe and healthy in their own space, therefore, the need of putting them in a residential home does not arise.Īpart from being beneficial for the clients, working nights comes with its own share of benefits for sleep-in carers. If not slept in properly through the night, loss of concentration and disorientation may result during the day which may lead to avoidable accidents.įurthermore, Overnight care can be the singularity between elderly individuals in a residential home or those in the safety and comfort of their home. This is of utmost importance as a good night’s sleep is invaluable for the elderly, as for everyone else. An overnight carer ensures peace of mind for them. It ensures that if an elderly person comes across an incapacitating situation during the night, a trusted and qualified person is there to handle the emergency situation.Ī benefit for the client themself is a friendly face to ease them during the night in case they are feeling lonely, down, or worried about their well-being. Overnight care proves greatly beneficial in these situations. Family members can only do so much to help them during these times, as they have their own needs to address.

In the UK, families are often concerned about their elders staying home alone, especially during the night. Why Waking Night Carers Are Indispensable Other young patients may just need a qualified and trusted person to check up on them during the night to make sure they took their medications or in case of emergencies such as an attack or seizure.

For example, spinal injury patients may need help performing basics tasks.

If they live alone, they might need help depending on how debilitating their condition is. Overnight care can even sometimes be necessary for younger individuals who suffer from chronic diseases. The tasks these patients may require help with include, changing stoma bags, administering medication, checking vitals, making a trip to the hospital if necessary, and so on. This care is usually provided by a trained health care provider like a nurse. Individuals who are recovering from a complex medical treatment or surgery in their homes also often require overnight care. Such people are already in a difficult situation due to their disease, but it can be especially debilitating during the night because they are prone to losing track of time and place and wandering around or even out of their house at times. This can be an especially risky situation if they encounter such an event during the night when no one is around to help them.Īnother type of clients for overnight workers includes patients with illnesses like dementia.

Many times, these individuals may have reduced mobility and/or vision and are at risk to suffer serious injury if they have a fall. This usually involves going to the toilet by themselves, changing positions during the night and more. The clients for overnight care are usually elderly individuals who have difficulty performing basic tasks by themselves.

Staying awake on night shift