I am doing some home health work, and a client needs overnight caregiving. I have never done overnight caregiving, so was wondering if anyone has good advice. It is a 12 hour shift, and I am wondering how people stay awake for the whole shift. I asked if I am allowed to sleep at all, and the company said no, so now I wonder if I should bring something to keep me entertained. I plan to bring coffee, and maybe a notebook to write my novel while I am attending to my clients needs. Am I allowed to bring a book or other things? What other duties are included with overnight caregiving?
My Dad was a fall risk, so the caregiver had to listen to hear if my Dad would get up during the night to go to the bathroom, and rush to his room to help him walk.
Since I was never at the house during the 3rd shift, I assume the caregiver found ways to keep busy and still have one ear open to hear for the client.
If this assignment is through an agency, make sure they're not paying you 'Sleep Duty' pay if the expect you to stay up all night. 'Sleep Duty' pay is less than minimum wage.
You can bring your book, cellphone, coffee, and even watch tv.
Even though the agency says you have to stay up all night, you don't have to. They all say no sleeping, but no one stays up all night standing at attention. Talk to the family. Does your client live alone or with family? If they live alone you can pretty much do whatever you want. Just make sure the client gets what they need.
Usually an overnight assignment means you toilet the client a couple of times (or change their diapers), reposition if they need to be, or make sure they don't wander. Those are the duties of an overnight caregiver. You're not responsible for cleaning their house, bathing them, making meals, or entertainment.
Don't worry, you'll be fine.
How do you know that they are not responsible for cleaning or bathing, etc.? Since you're also saying to make sure they're not getting paid "sleep duty" pay, but encouraging the caregiver to do as little as possible? Again, I'd be pissed if someone came here for 12 hours and they were not going to be willing to anything that didn't involve toileting!
Here is a link to an article about an overnight CGs responsibilities:
https://www.assistinghands-il-wi.com/blog/what-are-the-duties-of-an-overnight-caregiver/
Overnight caregiver duties cover a range of needs that a loved one may require at night:
~Supervise older adults who sleepwalk.
~Help seniors get up to use the bathroom.
~Reassure seniors who experience nighttime disturbances.
~Provide emotional support to seniors whose depression or anxiety spirals in the evening.
Mostly, though, I would see what the family's expectations are of you and then make sure you have the skills to do the things that are expected of you. It seems odd that you're taking on a job like this, not knowing what the duties will be and/or if you're qualified to perform them? Have you changed a soiled brief before, and are you comfortable doing that? The same goes for transferring an elder from the bed to the toilet and back again? That is a more important question than if you're allowed to bring a book with you to the job, which seems to be obvious: yes you can. If you're expected to stay awake all night, you'll need something to help you do so!
Best of luck.