Nights are often the hardest part of caring for a loved one at home. Falls, confusion, bathroom trips and medication times do not stop at bedtime. Overnight home care gives your loved one support through the night and gives family caregivers a chance to rest. This guide explains the main types of overnight care in New York and how to choose.
Signs your loved one may need overnight care
- They get up at night and are at risk of falling.
- They have dementia and wander, or become confused or anxious at night.
- They need help using the bathroom or changing position during the night.
- They are recovering from a hospital stay or surgery.
- A family caregiver is not sleeping enough to stay healthy.
Awake overnight care
With awake overnight care, an aide stays awake for the whole shift, usually 8 to 12 hours. This is the right choice when your loved one needs help often during the night, needs regular repositioning, or should not be left unattended at any point.
24-hour live-in care
With live-in care, one aide stays in the home for a 24-hour shift and sleeps there. In New York, live-in aides on 24-hour shifts are generally paid for 13 hours, under what is known as the "13-hour rule." For this to apply, the aide must get an 8-hour sleep break, including at least 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep, plus 3 hours of work-free meal breaks. If the aide's sleep or meal breaks are regularly interrupted, those hours must be paid.
Live-in care works well when your loved one sleeps through most of the night and only needs occasional help. See when live-in home care is needed.
24-hour care in two 12-hour shifts
When your loved one needs help many times during the night, live-in care is usually not the right fit. Instead, two aides work 12-hour shifts, so someone is always awake. This is often called 24-hour split-shift care. Read more in our guide to 24-hour in-home care.
How to choose
- Help needed a few times a night, otherwise sleeps: live-in care.
- Frequent help, wandering or high fall risk at night: awake overnight care or 12-hour split shifts.
- Family covers days but needs rest at night: an awake overnight shift.
- Needs support around the clock: 24-hour split-shift care.
Paying for overnight care
Medicaid may cover personal care or CDPAP hours, including overnight or 24-hour care, when an assessment shows they are medically necessary. The number of hours is set in your plan of care. Families can also arrange private pay care. See our guide on how to start Medicaid home care in New York.
Overnight care with HumanCare
HumanCare NY provides personal care, companion care and elderly care, including overnight and 24-hour schedules. Contact us to talk about the right schedule for your loved one.
Sources
- New York's Highest Court Upholds "13 Hour Rule" for Home Health Aides Working 24-Hour Shifts, Bond, Schoeneck & King
- Department of Labor Reissues "13-Hour Rule" for Home Care, LeadingAge New York
