Staff members of a 24-hour home care service switch out at various scheduled shifts throughout the day and night. Depending on your preferences, coverage can be structured with three or two shifts. Coverage can also be structured with a care pro remaining in the house with an agreement on a time period to be asleep. The coverage structure is based on your preferences and the care needs of your family member. Pasted text
When working with families of Gainesville and Cumming, I like to explain the different coverage structures used to provide 24-hour care and the differences between them.
The basic differences between care structures are the length of shifts, whether the caregiver is required to be awake, and the number of handoffs between caregivers.
Coverage Structures
The care structure used in your family member’s case may not require the caregiver to be awake the entire time, and may permit the caregiver to take a scheduled rest period.
Three shifts: The entire day is divided into three shifts, with each caregiver responsible for a 24 hour period.
12 hour shifts: A caregiver is responsible for a 12 hour period.
A caregiver remaining in the house for a period of time may be permitte to take a scheduled period of time to be asleep. Continuous wake care is permissable, but depends on the care needs of the family member.
Stair Steps models staffing not care.
In discussing 24-hour home care in Gainesville, I would address how the care schedule would be structured and would inquire if there were any expectations for where care members would go and what they would do during the overnights.
In regard to 24-hour home care in Cumming, the same questions would apply.
The expression “someone will be there all night” does not explain if that person is required to remain alert all night, or if that person is part of a care member arrangement that includes a sleep time.
The answer to this type of question is significant.
What Happens Overnight?
Overnight care can vary. In some cases, care may require that a member of the care team be available to assist the client at a moment’s notice throughout the entire care period.
In other cases, where the client is expected to remain in his or her room for the duration of the care period, the care member may be required to be alert and available to assist the client if needed.
In a care member arrangement that includes a sleep period, the care member would be expected to remain in the room for the duration of the care period and be available to assist the client if needed.
Care arrangements are developed to meet the needs of clients. It is important to understand the care needs of your loved one to ensure the care member arrangement reflects those needs.
I would ask:
Does the overnight caregiver have a defined sleep period?
What is the caregiver supposed to do if the client needs assistance during the sleep period?
Is there a care plan for the daytime hours that is different from the overnight hours?
What is the plan if the client’s needs increase during the night?
These questions are designed to help understand the specific services provided rather than making the assumption that the services provided are comprehensive simply because a general term like “overnight care” has been used.
Other 24 hour a day home care services can be discussed to help provide the services the family needs, both during the day and at night.
How many Caregivers will the family meet?
Because continuous 24 hour a day care is not feasible without a break for the Caregiver, it is likely that there will be more than one Caregiver providing services.
It is important that there be consistency for the client, and each Caregiver should become familiar with the client, the plan of care, and the family.
It is not likely that the same caregiver team will provide care each and every day.
Here are some more helpful questions for the office:
“How many Care Pros should we expect to see on a normal rotation?”
“What is the process for new Care Pros to learn the Care Plan?”
“In the event our regular Care Pro is unavailable, who will provide care for us?”
“Can the team remain the same small size if our care scheduling remains the same?”
The above questions are more helpful than “will one Care Pro be able to cover our full schedule?”
What happens when a Care Pro calls out?
This is one of the best questions a family should ask when they are about to initiate around the clock care.
One of the Care Pros that we are scheduled to have calls in and says they will not be coming to work.
Hopefully, the family has a process for this situation.
It is essential that the family learns the process for caregiver call-outs and back up care.
When a caregiver calls out, who is notified? Who gets to work locating a replacement? How does the family get notified?
Is there a Care Pro who is on standby to come in if needed?
If no Care Pro is available to come in, what steps does the Care Pro office take?
The process Care Pro office takes to cover call outs is very important to the care Pros who cover hand offs to the next care Pro.
Care Pros working the overnight shift may have already worked several hours by the time the morning shift starts at 7 a.m. It is not fair to expect an overnight Care Pro to stay past her shift to cover for an absent morning Care Pro.
Families need to understand the processes of the agencies their loved ones work for to avoid disruptions in care.
Prior Care Plans are crucial, especially when care is provided by an unexpected Care Pro.
Coverage Across Gainesville, Cumming, Buford and Flowery Branch
The office in Gainesville takes care of clients living in Gainesville, Cumming, Buford and Flowery Branch.
In care plans for clients in different locations, there may be variations due to differences in the caregiver workforce in different locations.
It is important that clients in different locations get specific care at different times.
If your family lives in Flowery Branch, the office needs to know if your concern is care during the day, care at night, or care during the week.
This information helps the office understand the nature of care that is needed by your family. It may help the office understand if your family needs true continuous care.
It is important that the family understand the practical constraints of care, especially if care is needed at all times. Care that is required at certain times may help the office understand practical staffing constraints.
Questions About 24-Hour Home Care
Is 24-hour home care going to mean having the same caregiver for the entire period?
No. Continuous care means there are Care Pros providing care at all times and is usually implemented by more than one caregiver.
What is the difference between caregiving services and live-in care?
True 24-hour care means there is always a caregiver and caregiving services are provided at all times. A live-in caregiver, however, may have an agreement for a caregiving services schedule to include a personal time off.
Will the same caregivers be assigned to my case?
It is likely the same caregivers will be assigned to a case, but caregivers may take time off which will change the assignment.
What should I do if my parent needs more caregiving services at night?
Contact your caregiving services office to let them know of the changes in your parent’s caregiving services needs.
Could we arrange for awake overnight care and not have to provide daytime care?
We can usually work with families' needs regarding daytime care. A family may not need care throughout the day.
How many care workers would be needed for continuous care?
This depends on the length of shifts and the number of shifts covered.
What should I ask before I start providing 24 hour care?
You should find out the number of Care Pros who will provide care, who will call out, how the Care Plan will be revised and who will cover calls out, how care will be handed off and how the 24 hour period will be divided.
If you need 24-hour home care in Gainesville, Buford, Flowery Branch or Cumming, contact us.
About the Author
Matt Cohn has spent more than 25 years helping older adults and their families find the right support to remain safe and comfortable at home. He owns Home Instead locations serving communities in Georgia and Louisiana and has worked closely with families, caregivers, and care professionals through many of the decisions involved in in-home care.
