What is overnight care?

Overnight care is a caregiver present through the night, either awake or on call, so a family member can sleep. It covers the hours when sundowning, wandering and falls on the way to the bathroom are most likely, and when the family caregiver is most exhausted. It can be booked for a few nights a week, and it is often the first outside help a spouse accepts.

Night lights in hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms, and grab bars for the shower, tub and toilet, are among the most useful, since falls on the way to the bathroom are a common night risk. The Alzheimer's Association also advises removing tripping hazards and suggests motion sensors on doors such as the garage. Clear walkways make it easier to help someone safely in the dark.

Overnight caregivers watch over the person through the night: helping them to the bathroom safely, settling them after they wake, gently redirecting wandering, and responding if they become restless or confused. The Alzheimer's Association notes that sleep problems and sundowning can bring anxiety, agitation, pacing and disorientation. The caregiver's main job is keeping the person safe so the family can rest.

It depends on the arrangement. With awake overnight care, the caregiver stays up all night and checks on the person, which suits someone who wanders or wakes often. With on call overnight care, the caregiver sleeps nearby and gets up when needed, which suits someone who usually sleeps through. Agree on which kind you are booking before the first night.

Respite care can be overnight, but it does not have to be. Respite gives a family caregiver a temporary rest while the person with dementia keeps receiving care in a safe setting. It can last a few hours at home or in an adult day center, and the Alzheimer's Association notes that long-term care communities may offer an overnight stay, a few days or a few weeks.