Caring for an elderly family member requires one to be concerned about the well-being of such a family member both day and night. Many elderly people suffer from sleep problems or different nighttime demanding situations, and thus overnight care is as important as daytime care. Having someone there to assist them through the night ensures their safety and comfort while giving families peace of mind. This guide will disclose the best overnight care for the elderly service in the united states right now.

Research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Study of Aging discovered that older people who need to use the bathroom at night have a higher chance of falling. This condition known as nocturia, makes them almost 30% more likely to have a fall. While any fall can pose risks, those that happen at night are worrying. They can lead to delays in getting help and medical care.

Overnight care aims to help older adults who need extra help during the night, require round-the-clock attention, or get worried when they’re alone in the early morning hours. It goes beyond just having someone there—it’s about getting their specific needs and making sure they feel secure and at ease. A personal caregiver stays with them through the night giving personal attention and company when necessary, which helps them stay independent and self-assured at all times.

In this guide, we’ll look at why overnight care is crucial for older adults and how to find a trustworthy service provider.

What is overnight care?

Night care means having someone there all night to help older people with things they need. This includes getting in and out of bed putting on clothes, going to the bathroom, and dealing with emergencies. This help is key for older folks with health issues that need watching, those who need help with personal care, or those who feel scared and confused at night.

Many older people don’t sleep well, which can make conditions like dementia worse and hurt their overall health. Problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s often cause confusion at night, which we call sundowning. This means older people might get more confused from late afternoon through the night. Night care gives them a sense of safety and security, which helps them feel more sure of themselves and independent at home.

People who provide care help with personal care, give out medicines, help with moving around at night, and make sure the person gets good sleep. This kind of care helps people with dementia spinal cord injuries, or those who need help often during the night.

Who is overnight care for?

Overnight care aims to give necessary help to people with special needs. It makes sure they stay safe and sound all night long. This support is super helpful for:

People who hurt their spines get help to move safely in bed.
Older folks with memory troubles need someone when they wake up a lot or walk around when it’s still dark.
Having bladder problems is normal as we get older. It means going to the loo a lot and that can mess with sleep. Nighttime caregivers make sure old people get there without tripping.
Seniors who have a hard time walking need assistance to get into and out of bed so they don’t fall when they need the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Folks dealing with serious health stuff – They need someone watching all the time, ’cause they might need their meds or have machines to help them breathe.
People getting back on their feet after illness or surgery need regular help with moving around and looking after themselves to get better faster.

Taking care of folks all through the night makes sure they don’t ever get the jitters of feeling all alone. It’s a way to calm nerves and give not just them, but also their loved ones, a break from worrying.

Who Qualifies for Overnight Care?

Nighttime care for older folks works well for people who:

Gotta get help with their personal stuff at night.
Need somebody to keep track of their meds.
Got trouble moving around or might tumble over when it’s dark.
Don’t sleep well or get super anxious when it’s late.
Have to be watched ’cause of brain troubles like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

What to expect from an overnight carer

-Assisting with bathroom visits and personal hygiene.

-Providing medication reminders and assistance.

-Helping with mobility and ensuring safety.

-Ensure they are ventilated well and take physical exercises during the day.

-Keep the same routine for sleeping, going to bed, and getting up at the same times every day.

-Cut out stuff that can distract in the bedroom before bedtime, like TVs and harsh lighting.

-Stay away from booze, coffee, and big dinners close to bedtime since these can mess with catching some z’s.

READ MORE: Free Government Phone for Seniors

Types of overnight care for the elderly

1. Sleeping night care

When a Care Professional snoozes at your place while you’re catching some Z’s, that’s a sleep-in service. It’s perfect for folks who don’t require any help during the nighttime but feel kinda uneasy flying solo.

They dig the comfort of having someone within reach if they need a hand. This rings true big time for people dealing with stuff like dementia that messes with their heads, leaving them all mixed up or on edge – spotting a familiar mug nearby can cut down the lonely vibes and unease.

Just knowing a Care Pro is bunking near you can chill you out, which is awesome for you or your peeps to get some solid shut-eye without anxiety. Plus, this sleep-in service might even roll in some help, like tucking you in at night or getting your breakfast going when you rise and shine.

The caregiver plans to stick around for a minimum of eight to ten hours and gets their own room to snooze in, but they’ll be up and at ’em if your family member requires a hand in the night hours. Picture it like the caregiver’s ready to spring into action kind of ‘on call.’

On a regular “sleeping night,” the care person wouldn’t figure on rising from bed over a couple of times. Should the person need help more often, you’d label that shift as a “waking night.”

2. Waking night care

In the home-care choice we’re talking about, the caregiver on duty in your family member’s place, ready to help for a 10-hour stretch. So waking night service, that’s when the Care Pro stays wide-awake all night at your home, on the lookout to assist.

If your person tends to get up a bunch during the night ’cause they need a hand with stuff—like getting to the restroom, some personal hygiene things, or maybe they gotta get comfy again after taking a tumble or dealing with a hurt, this is spot-on for them. Oh, and if they need their meds or a bit of a nudge figuring out what time it is so they can catch more Z’s, this service has got it covered.

Old folks who got dementia might need someone to stay awake to keep an eye on ’em at night. Sometimes they don’t get that it’s dark out and may wander off or try to bolt out the door. They’d need a night-time caregiver who’s wide-awake and ready for this kinda thing.

3. Home overnight care

The best option for individuals who don’t require someone present all night is overnight home care for seniors. Home care staff can drop by for a 30-minute period to meet an agreed need. If there is a specific time that assistance is needed, one or more visits can be scheduled during the night.

4. A sitting service

This will be necessary if you or any of your family members are giving elderly care to your loved one during the daytime, but really require its break at nighttime. A carer would visit to stay with the older person for a set duration, for example two hours or four hours, while the primary caregiver takes a short break.

Choosing the Right Overnight Care Provider

When selecting an overnight home-care service to hold for senior citizens, many things are to be considered. The following are some of the most important factors when selecting overnight home care for the elderly.

Assessing Needs and Preferences:

-Evaluate care needs:

Does your older person require special assistance in daily activities, administer medications, or address specific ailments? Personality and Lifestyle Evaluation: What are his or her hobbies and interests; what is his or her communication mode?

-Consider Budget:

Talk about the budgetary limitations and find out about payment methods given by different caregivers.

Research and Compare Caregivers:

-Reputation and Experience: Consider companies that have a history of successful outcomes and good reviews from customers.

-Qualifications and Training: Make sure the caregivers are certified with the required credentials that apply to your loved one.

-Matching Programs: Look for a company that considers personal match along with the above attributes on skills, experience, training, and certification.

-Services: Understand the services offered, available 24 by 7, have emergency response plans, home support, and ask appropriate questions.

Costs and Payment Options:

-Obtain a clear quote and learn the fee structure while asking about possible other charges.

-The general arrangement about feedback and complaint handling: How customer concerns are addressed and how the home care provider (and your loved one!) works.

Ensure a satisfactory meeting with them:

Schedule a home visit: A good provider will want to visit the home where care is being provided. This allows you to discuss your needs and desires and gives you time to get to know the team that will support you.
Your loved one will be able to interact directly with the service representatives and ask questions in a familiar and comfortable environment.

Cost of Overnight Care

In most cases, payment for overnight care can be either hourly, weekly, or monthly. However, the amount will not be the same and will depend on some factors such as:

Location.
The outcome of the aged individual.
Connected to an independent or an agency caregiver.
Employing a live-in or an overnight hourly caregiver.

As Elliana Rose, a medical doctor specializing in pharmacology, immunology, and internal medicine, noted, their services vary anywhere from $12-$15 an hour or about $120-$200 a night, depending on prior experience and whether a given caregiver has any other certification.

The recent Genworth’s Cost of Care survey shows national median hourly rates for homemaker services or home health aid (described as someone with usually a high school qualification doing general patient activities like clean and bathing, toilet assistance, dressing, and maybe checking vitals) costing about $33. This varies greatly between urban locations from about $22 up to $42 dollars an hour.

10 Largest caregiver services in the United States

1. Visiting Angels

As of July 31, 2024, the United States numbered 618 sites of Visiting Angels. California leads the other states and territories of the US with its most “Visiting Angels” locations: 61, or about 10% of the total Visiting Angels in the United States.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
618	49	562

2. Comfort Keepers

As of March 14, 2024, there are 438 Comfort Keepers locations in the USA. California is the state and territory that has the most Comfort Keepers locations in the US at 43, which accounts for around 10% of the total Comfort Keepers locations in the US.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
438	45	409

3. Interim HealthCare

As of November 29, 2024, there are 320 Interim HealthCare locations across the United States. California was the state or territory with the largest number of Interim HealthCare locations: 32, or about 10 percent of all Interim HealthCare locations in the United States.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
320	43	301

4. AeroCare

As of October 06, 2020, there are AeroCare locations in the United States and numbered up to 302. Out of the entire US, the state and territory with the most number of AeroCare locations is Tennessee, with 31 stores, approximately 10% of all AeroCare stores in the US.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
302	29	270

5. Senior Helpers

As of April 18, 2024, there are 288 Senior Helpers outlets across the states in the U.S. California is the state and territory with the most extensive number of Senior Helpers locations in the U.S. among the states and territories, having 45 locations. This is approximately 16 percent of all Senior Helpers in the U.S.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
288	42	275

6. BrightStar Care

At 282 BrightStar Care facilities within the United States up until February 29, 2024. Florida emerged as the state and territory that has the most number of BrightStar Care outlets in the US with 34 locations, approximating about 12% of the total BrightStar Care locations at the United States.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
282	39	266

7. Baptist Health South Florida

As on January 04, 2024, there are 259 locations of Baptist Health South Florida in the U.S. The most locations for the Baptist Health South Florida in the U.S. would be Florida, having the actual number of 259 locations, which is almost something like 100% of all the Baptist Health South Florida locations under the U.S. territory.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
259	1	28

8. Synergy HomeCare

The count of Synergy HomeCare centers in the United States amounts to 243 as of August 30, 2024. The number of Synergy HomeCare centers in Texas is 29, which accounts for approximately 12 percent of the total number of Synergy HomeCare centers in the United States. Texas therefore stands as the US state and territory with the highest number of Synergy HomeCare locations.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
243	40	229

9. Home Helpers

As of 02 May 2024, there are 232 Home Helpers centers across the United States. California has the most wherein Home Helpers locations within the country; totaling to 23, which accounts for about 10% of all Home Helpers in the USA.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
232	39	220

10. ComForCare Home Care

As of January 10, 2025, the US has 190 ComForCare Home Care branches. The vast majority of these are in California, which has 20 locations that represent approximately 11% of all ComForCare locations in the US.

Number of Locations	States Present In	Cities Present In
180	33	168

States with most expensive median hourly rate for home health aide

Maine: $42
South Dakota: $42
Missouri: $40
New Hampshire: $40
Rhode Island: $40
Vermont: $40
Washington: $40
Colorado: $38
Hawaii: $38
Iowa: $38

States with lowest median hourly rate for home health aide

Oklahoma: $28
Texas: $28
Georgia: $27
Oregon: $27
District of Columbia: $26
Kentucky: $25
Louisiana: $25
West Virginia: $25
Alabama: $23
Mississippi: $22

Final Verdict

Overnight care for older adults is hands down the most needed service that can offer the requisite support, safety, and companionship to these people at night.

Families get comfort that their loved ones are well-safe at every hour, even at night, when they select the perfect overnight care service for their needs. It may be sleeping care, waking care, or it can be 24-hour support; whatever the type, overnight care in some ways makes the quality of life better for the elderly by allowing them to live with more ease and security in their home.

Overnight Care for The Elderly