When a loved one can no longer be safely left alone, families usually consider two options for staying at home: live-in care and 24-hour care. They sound similar, but they work differently.
What is 24-hour care?
With 24-hour care, a team of caregivers works in shifts, commonly two 12-hour shifts or three 8-hour shifts. Someone is awake and alert at all times, including overnight.
Best for people who:
- Wake often at night and need help each time
- Have advanced dementia with nighttime wandering or agitation
- Need frequent repositioning, toileting, or supervision around the clock
- Are receiving end-of-life care
What is live-in care?
With live-in care, one caregiver stays in the home for a set number of days. The caregiver has a private place to sleep and gets scheduled breaks and uninterrupted sleep time.
Best for people who:
- Usually sleep through the night
- Need help throughout the day and the security of someone in the house
- Do well with a single, familiar caregiver
Key differences
- Nighttime: 24-hour care means someone is awake all night. Live-in care means the caregiver sleeps and helps occasionally if needed.
- Consistency: Live-in care usually means fewer different faces. 24-hour care involves a small team.
- Home setup: Live-in care needs a private room for the caregiver.
- Cost: Live-in care is often less expensive than fully staffed 24-hour shifts, but the right choice depends on need, not just price.
What about overnight care only?
If your loved one manages well during the day but nights are the problem, overnight care may be enough, and it costs much less than round-the-clock coverage.
Getting it right
Needs change, and the best arrangement today may not be right in six months. We'll help you choose, and adjust as things change. Learn about our 24-hour and live-in care in Lowell, or call (978) 479-0499.