Reasons Why Your Loved One Might Need A Night Care Assistant

Nobody likes leaving their loved one home alone at night if they feel like they need extra support, whether they are elderly, have dementia or are disabled. However, they may also not feel ready to put them in a permanent care home just yet. 

Hiring a night care assistant could help bridge the gap, reassuring friends and family their loved one will be taken good care of while being able to remain in their own home. 

Here are some reasons why it might be time for night care.

Medication management

Staying on top of medication can be difficult for everyone, but it is even more so for those who have to take a lot of different pills at various times of the day or people with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s. 

Some will have to take medication throughout the night, which can be even more challenging, as they will feel disoriented from waking up. 

It is important that medication is managed well, meeting the right schedule, having the right dosage, and making a note of the treatment, so that doctors and nurses can see the impact and adjust the medicine if needed. 

Therefore, it is imperative that medication is not mismanaged or neglected, even at night. 

Having a professional care assistant available to give the correct dose of medication at the right time is, therefore, very helpful, taking the burden off the patient and providing reassurance to family and friends. 

Personal care assistance 

There’s a lot to do before going to bed, from going to the toilet to brushing teeth, so it could be really helpful to have someone there to help with personal care. Anyone with limited mobility will find these daily tasks difficult, and may also forget to do them. However, a consistent bedtime routine is important for maintaining good health. 

Patients might also need personal care assistance during the night, whether they get up multiple times to go to the toilet or they wet the bed and need it changed and for themselves to be washed.

Anyone who has an injury might also need help with dressing or pain relief during the night, while night time care assistants also make sure the bed is comfortable, the pillows are in the right place, and any trip hazards are moved out of the way. 

Company

Lots of older people struggle with sleep, and up to 75 per cent of older adults have symptoms of insomnia, according to a study in the National Library of Medicine. 

This could be due to sleep-disordered breathing, restless legs syndrome, changes in sleep-wake cycles, particular medications, and being more likely to have medical or psychiatric conditions as they get older.

According to The Sleep Foundation, people lose 27 minutes of sleep per night each decade from middle age. Someone in their 80s or 90s will be having significantly less sleep than someone in their 40s. 

Therefore, it is valuable for them to have someone around when they cannot sleep. A night time care assistant can provide them with support, help them get out of bed, enable them to move around the home, get them some water or even just have a friendly conversation with them. 

This companionship is really important and can provide an elderly person or someone who is ill with peace and security, knowing they are not alone. 

Whether they turn on the lights, adjust the room temperature, get an extra blanket or make them a hot drink, this round-the-clock care can be really important for their mental health, which will have a knock-on effect on their physical health.