Overnight Care at Home

Sleepover vs Active Night Support: What's the Difference?

A sleepover is when a support worker sleeps at the home and wakes only to assist if needed. Active night support is when the worker stays awake for the whole shift. The right arrangement depends on the person's individual needs, care plan, funding and support requirements.

Sleepover support

The worker stays overnight with a place to sleep. They're there if something happens, but they aren't expected to be awake all night.

• Help needed occasionally, if at all
• Reassurance someone is in the home
• Worker needs a bed or private space
• Interruptions are limited

Active night support

The worker stays awake throughout the shift and provides support as often as it's needed.

• Help needed regularly through the night
• Repositioning, toileting or monitoring
• Night-time confusion or wandering
• Higher or changing health needs

Not sure which you need? That's normal. We'll ask about a typical night and help you work it out.

The Basics

What Can an Overnight Support Worker Help With?

Depending on the person's care plan, overnight support may include:

Bedtime routines

Getting ready for bed, personal care and settling.

Toileting and continence

Assistance through the night with dignity.

Medication prompts

Reminders in line with the care plan, where appropriate.

Repositioning and mobility

Turning, transfers and safe movement to reduce falls.

Reassurance

Calm company when someone wakes confused or anxious.

Responding to concerns

Following the plan and contacting family or services if needed.

When Should Families Consider Overnight Care?

Many families wait until they're exhausted. Overnight care is worth considering when:

• A loved one wakes often or wanders
• There's a risk of falls at night
• Night-time confusion is increasing
• Family carers aren't sleeping
• Someone has just come home from hospital

After Hospital

How Much Does Overnight Care Cost?

The cost of overnight care depends on whether it's a sleepover or active night shift, the length of the shift, weekday, weekend or public-holiday timing, how often it's needed, the skills required and how it's funded. There isn't one flat rate that applies to everyone.

Tell us about the situation and we'll explain which factors apply and what options may suit.

• Sleepover or active night
• Shift length and start time
• Weekdays, weekends and public holidays
• How many nights a week
• Skills or training needed
• NDIS, Support at Home or private funding

For Professionals

Overnight Care: Frequently Asked Questions

Overnight care is support provided in the person's home during the night — either as a sleepover, where the worker sleeps on site and assists if needed, or active night support, where the worker stays awake throughout the shift.

In a sleepover, the worker has a place to sleep and is woken only if help is needed. In an active night, the worker stays awake and provides support throughout. Which suits depends on how often and how urgently help is needed overnight.

Cost depends on whether the shift is a sleepover or active night, the shift length, the day of the week or public holidays, how often support is needed, the skills required and how it's funded. We'll explain the factors that apply once we understand the situation.

Toileting, repositioning, medication prompts where appropriate, settling after waking, reassurance, safety checks and help getting ready for bed or starting the morning.

When a loved one wakes often, is at risk of falls at night, is wandering, is unsettled after a hospital stay, or when family carers are exhausted from being up at night.

Yes, where suitable workers are available. Night-time confusion is common with dementia; a familiar, calm worker can make nights safer and more settled.

The NDIS may fund overnight support where it's reasonable and necessary and included in the plan. We don't assess or approve funding.

Yes. Some people need overnight support for a few weeks after hospital or during illness, and others need it long term.

Yes. You can review suitable workers and help decide who is welcome in the home.

Related Support

Ask About Overnight Care

Share a few details and we'll call to talk through the right overnight arrangement.

Tell us about the overnight support needed

Share a few details and a member of our team will call you back to talk it through. .eq-autocomplete { position: relative; } .eq-suggest { position: absolute; z-index: 50; top: calc(100% + 2px); left: 0; right: 0; max-height: 260px; overflow-y: auto; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #d7dee6; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(16, 42, 67, .12); } .eq-suggest[hidden] { display: none; } .eq-suggest__item { padding: 10px 14px; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.3; color: #21323f; cursor: pointer; border-bottom: 1px solid #eef2f6; } .eq-suggest__item:last-child { border-bottom: 0; } .eq-suggest__item:hover, .eq-suggest__item.is-active { background: #eef7f8; } .eq-suggest__empty { padding: 10px 14px; font-size: 14px; color: #6b7c8a; } How can we help you? 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