Taking care of a senior or disabled loved one gives both a sense of love and a sting of pain. With growing needs, you are expected to put in more effort and time. It usually starts with giving them a hand from time to time, but as the needs grow, you find out that you need to give in everything you've got. From a few hours of support, it may become necessary to adopt a 24-hour care routine, especially when cognitive impairments apply.

You could provide 24-hour care, but what if you can't? You have a family to take care of, a job to keep, a career to pursue and a social life to maintain. All these cannot just be put to a stop. So, if you are hoping to provide your loved one with comprehensive round-the-clock care, your best chance might be hiring professional care workers. But when do you think making this switch is absolutely necessary?

No doubt, leaving your loved ones in the care of a stranger, although a professional, is not always easy. That's why many families are against putting their loved ones in a nursing home. But even as you take care of them at home, there comes a point where you should let professionals take over. Getting to know that point may be hard, but with the right information, you will know just the time. 

Understanding What 24-Hour Support Really Means

24-hour support is a type of home care service where a professional carer takes care of your loved one throughout the day without interruptions. To be much clearer, 24-hour support doesn't necessarily mean having a carer who is always with your loved one every second of the day. That could be the case, but it could also be in another form. This form refers to rotating shifts. 

Live-In vs. Rotating Shifts

In live-in care, a carer resides in your home and provides help to your loved one throughout the day. They are also available at night in the case of an emergency. This is the kind of care your loved one deserves if you are away most of the time.

On the other hand, rotating shift support involves two or more carers taking turns taking care of your loved one. It may be an 8-12 hour shift to ensure that there is always someone looking after your loved one. It is the right 24-hour care service for your loved one if they require constant supervision and medical support.

You should also understand that 24-hour support is different from part-time or overnight care. Part-time care is provided for a few hours of the day to help the care receiver with daily tasks and medication. Overnight care, on the other hand, typically covers only the night shift. It is a good support option if you are mostly around during the day but need someone to take care of your loved one during the night, either because you would be away or too tired to help them.

Who Provides 24-Hour care?

Family members can provide 24-hour care. But we will be focusing more on the professional caregivers. 24-hour care can be provided by a number of professionals trained to undertake different support services acting to the needs of the care receiver. The professionals involved include:

  • Personal Carers or Support Workers 

These caregivers basically assist with daily tasks like cooking, showering, mobility, toileting, and companionship. They can come in as live-in, part-time or shift workers.

  • Registered Nurses 

Nurses are involved when medical care, wound management, or medication administration is needed. If you have a diabetic or cognitively impaired loved one to take care of, they fit right in.

  • Allied Health Professionals 

Here you find health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists. They may work independently or in collaboration, depending on the needs of the care receiver. 

Where Can 24-Hour Care Be Delivered?

24-hour care can be delivered in different settings. However, we will be focusing more on home care services as it's the current leading support care option. Other settings where 24-hour care can be accessed include 

  • In residential aged care facilities, professional support is provided around the clock.
  • In supported accommodation, like specialist disability housing.

Signs That 24-Hour Support Might Be Needed

This is where most families find it difficult to make a decision. While it's a good decision to make for a loved one's well-being, it's also an emotional moment. 24-hour support usually suggests that the loved one's condition is progressing. It's saddening, but yet, the right thing must be done at the right time. If your loved one experiences any of the following, it is perhaps time to get them a 24-hour care service.

Increasing physical care needs 

Helping your loved ones with some physical needs is normal. However, if it gets to a point where they become totally dependent on your help to get through their daily lives, it's perhaps time to offer them 24-hour care. Physical conditions that may warrant 24-hour care include 

  • Difficulty moving around the house 
  • Incontinence
  • Difficulty in having a bath
  • Difficulty in brushing their teeth
  • Difficulty with dressing
  • Difficulty getting in and out of bed

If all it takes is for you to step out for a few minutes and come in to find your loved one on the floor in pain from a fall, then you should get 24-hour care. 

Cognitive Decline 

You should consider 24-hour care for your loved one if they have a progressive illness like dementia. As the condition progresses, they will require more help with doing virtually everything. 24-hour care can help make life more comfortable for them as keeping them both physically and emotionally stable is an important part of their care needs. They need someone around them to help monitor and manage behavioural changes like anxiety and fear, especially at night.

Risk of falls or accidents when unsupervised

As it's been outlined above, if your loved one risks losing their balance when left alone, then they shouldn't be left alone. And that entails a 24-hour care plan where a caregiver will be with them at all times to see to their every need.

Frequent Hospital visits or Medical Emergencies

Instead of making constant trips to the hospital, why not hire a registered nurse on a 24-hour care basis? With the nurse around either as a live-in or shift worker, some symptoms can be managed effectively, and there won't be any need to go to the hospital.

Complex Medical Conditions 

Managing symptoms associated with some medical conditions that the care receiver may have requires continuous observation and appropriate medical treatment. You can't manage these symptoms alone, not without the right training. 24-hour care is the right way to guarantee the safety of your loved one.

The Roles of the Caregiver

The roles of a 24-hour caregiver are no different from those of a regular home care worker. The only difference is that they provide these services on a more regular basis and with better care. Their roles include 

  • Personal Care

The caregiver is responsible for maintaining the day-to-day activities of the care receiver. If your loved one needs someone to help them cook or clean the house, the 24-hour care worker performs the task. They also help with the personal hygiene of your loved one, ensuring they appear neat and well-groomed. 

  • Medication Management

24-hour care workers also provide medical care to their care recipients. They ensure that your loved one takes their medication when and how they have been prescribed.

  • Companionship and Emotional Support

24-hour care workers are dedicated to taking care of the emotional needs of the care receiver. They spend time with the care receiver, understanding their emotional concerns and offering support as much as they can. 

Benefits of 24-Hour Care for Your Loved One

There are many benefits of 24-hour care. Some of them include: 

Safety

24-hour support ensures that your loved one is always under the supervision of a care worker.  With constant supervision, the risk of falls can be reduced to the barest minimum. They also monitor medication to avoid issues. These are potential health risks that can be fatal if not well managed.

Continuity of Care 

Continuity is important in-home care, especially in aged care. This is because care receivers will more likely be comfortable with the same person or fewer people taking care of them in the case of shift care. Frequent changes in caregivers can create anxiety and a lack of cooperation.

Fewer Emergency Situations

More supervision under 24-hour care reduces the cases of emergency. With the caregiver always around to look after your loved one, they are less likely to have emergency situations. This will save you more money and reduce the stress of constant visits to the hospital. It also improves the overall health of the care receiver.

Personalised Support and Companionship

Having just one or two caregivers take care of your loved one means better dedication to their needs. For example, a live-in caregiver can build a close relationship with your loved one. With this relationship, they will have a better understanding of their needs beyond the normal home care package. Knowing what the care receiver needs at every time of the day, like when they prefer to have their tea or coffee, is a great way of meeting their needs. 

Alternatives to Consider Before Committing

Arranging 24-hour care for a loved one is an important step to take. There are a lot of factors to consider that you may not be ready to take charge of. So, you need to think it through before taking the bold step. This is especially important when you are yet to fully understand your loved one's shifting needs as well as make the necessary financial considerations. Fortunately, there are some alternatives that can be used instead, which offer top-notch support without a full-time obligation. Some good alternatives to look into are:

  • Trial Periods of 24-Hour Care

If you're not convinced 24-hour care is the right choice at the moment, start with a test phase. Many care providers have flexible arrangements whereby families can get a glimpse of what the care will be like without making a full commitment. This will give you and your loved one a period to adjust to it and see how well the service will be suited to your needs.

  • Respite Care or Short-Term Live-In Care

Respite care provides temporary relief for carers from home, with professional care for a short time. Similarly, short live-in care can bridge the gap after hospital discharge or convalescence after sickness. These provide you with a breather while still giving your loved one the best quality of care.

  • Increased Daytime Care Hours 

At other times, simply adding more hours of care during the day may be sufficient to allow for the level of support needed without 24/7 presence. 

How to Start the Process if You Decide It's Time

After careful consideration and you finally decide that 24-hour care is the best option for your loved one, it's the time to start the process of finding the right support. Care should be taken in this quest, as the well-being of your loved one depends heavily on how good or bad the caregiver is. To start off,

  • Talk to Your Loved One (If Possible) 

It is necessary to involve your loved one in your decision to put them under 24-hour care. This is a form of respect for their emotions. They should feel that sense of dignity and independence in choosing what care they are entitled to. Even in cases of cognitive decline where the care receiver may not have much to contribute, it is still necessary to give them a chance to express themselves. If they object to the choice, as in many cases, you can then do what you feel is right for them, bearing in mind that their well-being is the priority.

  • Seek professional advice

If your loved one is eligible for government-funded care services like My Aged Care or NDIS, an assessment is needed to determine a suitable care plan. The more information you have about the kind of care you are seeking for your loved one, the better the decisions you are likely to make.

  • Pick a Care Provider

The kind of care provider you choose to provide 24-hour care for your loved one determines, to a large extent, the quality of care provided. Weigh your options and go for providers with a good reputation for providing quality personalised care to their clients. 

Transitioning from Regular Support to 24-hour support

  • Start slowly

Consider beginning 24-hour care with day or night shifts for a trial.

  • Introduce the caregiver 

Make time to introduce the caregiver to your loved one before the actual care begins. If they have any complaints about the caregiver, take note of them and see if adjustments can be made; if not, look for someone else.

  • Stay involved

Leaving your loved one in the care of the support worker does not mean you no longer have a role to play in their care. Do regular check-ins and take note of your loved one's comments about the care they receive. 

Conclusion

Providing 24/7 care for your loved one is proof of responsibility and love. It's difficult to know that your loved one's situation has progressed to a level where they require 24/7 care, but you have to believe that you're doing the best for them. There are many benefits of 24-hour care that will improve the life of your loved one. Choose the right help for your relative today, and they will have much to be grateful for.