Professional waking night and sleeping night carers providing safe, reassuring support through the night across Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
CQC Rated Good
Regulated care provider
Rated Good
Hertfordshire branch
Night Specialists
Waking & sleeping nights
Local Carers
Herts & Cambridgeshire
Overnight care is a service where a professional carer stays in someone's home during the night, typically from around 10pm until 7am or 8am the following morning.
The carer is there to provide support, reassurance, and practical help during the hours when many people feel most vulnerable.
Unlike live-in care where a carer resides full-time, overnight care focuses specifically on the nighttime hours
This makes it suitable for people who manage independently during the day but need support through the night, or for families who provide daytime care themselves but need rest during nighttime hours.
A waking night carer stays awake and alert throughout the entire night. They are ready to provide immediate assistance whenever it is needed, whether that means helping someone to the bathroom, repositioning them in bed, administering medication, or providing reassurance if they wake feeling confused or distressed.
A sleeping night carer sleeps in a spare room but remains available if needed. This type of care suits people who generally sleep through the night but want the reassurance of knowing someone is nearby. The carer can respond if called, typically helping once or twice during the night with tasks like toileting or settling back to sleep.
Overnight care can benefit a wide range of people and situations. You might consider this type of support if your loved one:
— Support for Family Carers —
Overnight care is also invaluable for family carers. If you have been providing nighttime care for a loved one, the lack of sleep can quickly become exhausting and unsustainable. Having a professional carer take over at night allows you to rest, knowing your loved one is in safe hands.
The specific tasks an overnight carer performs depend on your loved one's needs, but typically include:
Getting changed, washing, brushing teeth, settling into bed
Assisting with toileting and continence care during the night
Administering or prompting medications at the correct times
Helping to get in and out of bed, walking to the bathroom
Turning to prevent pressure sores for those who are less mobile
Monitoring for changes in health, mood, or behaviour
Getting up, washing, dressing, preparing breakfast
Brief notes shared with family members and healthcare professionals
For waking night carers,
there may also be quiet tasks that can be completed while your loved one sleeps, such as preparing things for the morning, light housekeeping, or organising medication. The focus always remains on being available and responsive throughout the night.
Sleep patterns change as we age, and understanding these changes helps explain why overnight care can make such a difference.
40%
Over 65s with regular insomnia
75%
Older adults with sleep disturbance
3-4x
Average night wakings
66%
Dementia patients with sundowning
Older adults spend less time in deep, restorative sleep and more time in lighter sleep stages. This makes them more susceptible to waking during the night. Research suggests that older adults wake three to four times per night on average, and approximately 50% of people over 55 have difficulty falling or staying asleep.
The body's internal clock tends to shift earlier with age. Many older adults feel sleepy earlier in the evening and wake earlier in the morning. This can lead to long periods of wakefulness during the night, especially in the early hours.
Oversee the person's care, prescribe medication, and can refer to specialist palliative care services if needed.
May be available in some areas to provide overnight nursing care at no charge, though availability varies.
The cost of overnight care depends on whether you need waking night or sleeping night support, how many nights per week care is required, and any specialist skills your carer may need.
£100 – £140
per night (approx. 9 hours)
Carer sleeps nearby, available if needed
£150 – £260
per night (approx. 9 hours)
Carer stays awake and alert all night
In many cases, overnight care at home is comparable in cost to residential care and often more affordable when you consider that the person can remain in their own home.
Need help understanding costs and funding options?
Request Free QuoteMany families pay for overnight care directly from savings, pensions, or family contributions.
if your loved one has savings below £23,250 (excluding their home for home care assessments), the council may contribute.
If care needs are primarily health-related (a 'primary health need'), the NHS may fund overnight care in full.
A non-means-tested benefit for those over State Pension age who need help day or night.
Arranging care can feel like a big step. We try to make it as straightforward as possible.
When you call, we listen. We want to understand what is happening, what you need, and how quickly you need it. There is no pressure and no obligation.
Our Registered Manager, Ms Novuyo Millicent Ntaisi, or a senior team member visits to assess what care is needed, understand preferences and routines, and discuss the best level of overnight support.
We create a detailed care plan covering bedtime routines, nighttime needs, medication schedules, emergency contacts, and morning preferences.
We carefully select carers experienced in overnight care who we believe will be the right fit for your family. Continuity matters, especially during vulnerable nighttime hours.
Care is reviewed regularly and adjusted as needs change. We stay in close communication with families and healthcare professionals throughout.
For urgent situations, we can often arrange overnight care within a few days. In hospital discharge situations, we will do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
What makes us different from other home care providers
Our Hertfordshire service is rated Good by the CQC, and our Cambridgeshire service is CQC registered. You can trust that we meet the standards required for safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care.
Our carers live and work locally in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. This means they can arrive reliably at the agreed time each evening and build genuine relationships with the people they support.
All our overnight carers complete comprehensive training including moving and handling, safeguarding, medication support, dementia awareness, and responding to emergencies.
We work hard to ensure your loved one sees the same carers as much as possible. We communicate clearly if any changes are needed.
Our Registered Manager, Ms Novuyo Millicent Ntaisi, oversees both services and maintains direct involvement in quality assurance.
We keep you informed about how care is going, report any concerns promptly, and welcome your input and questions. You are part of the care team.
Living Plus Care Services provides overnight care across Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Our Hertfordshire branch provides overnight care across the county, from our office at 32 Market Place, Hatfield AL10 0LN.
Our Cambridgeshire branch covers Peterborough and surrounding areas, from our office at Stuart House, East Wing, St John's Street, Peterborough.
Not sure if we cover your area? Call us on 01707 707599 to check availability.
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A conversation with our team costs nothing and commits you to nothing. We can answer your questions and help you decide whether this is right for your family.
