Does Assisted Living Provide 24-Hour Care?

At night, as during the day, staff in assisted living communities help residents with activities of daily living.  Caregivers make rounds to see that all residents are safe throughout the night and respond to emergencies as needed. Rachel Levy, who spent 20 years in management roles in senior living communities before joining A Place for Mom, notes the following additional examples of the overnight supervision provided at assisted living:

• Checking on new residents or residents returning from a hospital more frequently
• Helping residents with toileting needs
• Assisting with showers for residents who prefer to bathe at night

Some communities use a mix of staff and technology to supervise residents overnight. Levy says some may use things like wander-guard technology or bed monitors, especially for residents experiencing cognitive decline. However, Levy says it’s more common to find bed monitors in skilled nursing facilities.

Read more:What Are the State Requirements for Assisted Living Communities? An Overview

Benefits of 24-hour support in assisted living

One important benefit of 24-hour supervision in assisted living is the peace of mind it provides for residents and their families. When staff are available around the clock, they’re able to respond to emergencies more quickly.

For family caregivers, flexibility is another benefit. When assisted living staff are available 24/7, changes in a caregiver’s work schedule, for example, don’t have to be a source of added stress.

Is assisted living the right fit?

Assisted living communities have staff available 24/7, just like nursing homes. But there are some important differences between the two settings as it relates to overnight support.

• Staff training and skills: Nursing homes typically have licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and sometimes registered nurses (RNs) on staff around the clock. They’re trained to provide the more intensive medical care that nursing home residents require.  Assisted living communities may have nurse’s aides or CNAs onsite overnight, but don’t typically have an RN or LPN every night.
• Type of care provided: Overnight staff in an assisted living community are trained to provide supervision, such as help with ADLs. Most aren’t trained or licensed to provide skilled nursing care. In a nursing home, where there are more nurses and nurse assistants, skilled nursing care, such as starting or adjusting an IV, can be provided overnight.

Read related article:Staff-to-Resident Ratios in Assisted Living: A Detailed Look

In some cases, seniors may need more care overnight than an assisted living community can provide. Many times, this comes down to what kinds of advanced care services a community is licensed to provide. Assisted living communities are licensed on a state level, whereas nursing homes follow national guidelines.

“State regulations are very clear about what services can and can’t be provided by an assisted living community,” Levy says. She encourages families to ask any community they’re considering about when a nursing home may be necessary.

Levy notes that a nursing home may be needed if a resident:

• Has an advancing medical condition
• Needs constant one-on-one help
• Can’t adopt a sleep routine
• Requires help with medications in the middle of the night
• Needs overnight diabetic care
• Has stage three or higher wounds
• Is diagnosed with failure to thrive, where a senior experiences weight loss, decreased appetite, poor nutrition, and inactivity^[01]

If your loved one doesn’t need a nursing home level of care, and you think they’d do well with the 24-hour supervision offered in assisted living, A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help. They work with families to find communities that meet a senior’s care needs, preferences, and budget. Best of all, this service comes at no cost to your family.