When Is Round-the-Clock Care Necessary?
Knowing when a parent needs 24-hour care is one of the most difficult decisions adult children face. Many families wait until a crisis—a serious fall, a wandering incident, or a medical emergency—before seeking round-the-clock support. But recognizing the warning signs early allows for proactive planning and smoother transitions.
According to AARP, 77% of older adults want to remain in their homes as they age. 24-hour home care makes this possible even when significant support is needed, providing continuous care in familiar surroundings.
10 Signs Your Parent May Need 24-Hour Care
1. They Cannot Be Left Alone Safely
This is often the clearest indicator that round-the-clock care is needed. If you're constantly worried about what might happen when no one is there, or if incidents have already occurred during unsupervised time, continuous care may be necessary.
Warning signs include:
- Wandering out of the house or getting lost
- Leaving the stove on or causing kitchen fires
- Forgetting to lock doors or letting strangers in
- Falls that occur when alone
- Medical emergencies without ability to call for help
- Unable to respond appropriately to emergencies
2. Frequent Falls or Near-Falls
Falls are the leading cause of injury death among adults 65 and older, according to the CDC. If your parent is falling frequently—or you suspect falls they haven't told you about—constant supervision may prevent a serious injury.
Signs of increased fall risk:
- Multiple falls in the past year
- Unexplained bruises or injuries
- Furniture or walls with hand marks from steadying themselves
- Fear of falling affecting daily activities
- Difficulty with balance when standing or walking
- Getting stuck on the floor after a fall
A fall prevention assessment can identify hazards, but if falls continue despite modifications, 24-hour supervision provides immediate assistance and can prevent falls from occurring.
3. Nighttime Needs Are Disrupting Sleep
When nighttime needs become frequent or unpredictable, both your parent and any family caregiver living with them suffer.
Nighttime issues that may require 24-hour care:
- Waking multiple times needing bathroom assistance
- Nighttime wandering or confusion
- Difficulty getting back to bed safely after waking
- Sundowning behaviors (increased confusion and agitation in evening hours)
- Risk of falls when getting up at night
- Medical needs requiring overnight monitoring
With 24-hour shift care, a caregiver remains awake overnight to assist with these needs, ensuring your parent's safety while allowing family members to sleep.
4. Dementia Has Progressed to Require Constant Supervision
As dementia advances, the need for supervision increases significantly. Middle and late-stage dementia often require someone present at all times.
Dementia-related signs pointing to 24-hour care:
- Wandering or attempts to leave the house
- Forgetting how to perform basic tasks like eating or using the bathroom
- Not recognizing family members or caregivers
- Severe confusion about time, place, or situation
- Inability to communicate needs or symptoms
- Behavioral changes like aggression or paranoia
- Putting themselves in dangerous situations
Specialized dementia care from trained caregivers can manage these challenges while keeping your parent safe and comfortable.
5. Medical Conditions Require Monitoring
Chronic or complex medical conditions often require more consistent oversight than family members can provide.
Medical situations that may require 24-hour care:
- Diabetes requiring regular blood sugar monitoring
- Heart conditions needing symptom observation
- Respiratory conditions requiring oxygen or monitoring
- Recovery from stroke or major surgery
- Complex medication schedules
- Conditions that can change rapidly
- History of medical emergencies
6. They Need Help with Most Daily Activities
When your parent can no longer manage most activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, they may need more continuous support.
Activities of daily living (ADLs) include:
- Bathing and personal hygiene
- Dressing
- Eating
- Toileting
- Transferring (moving from bed to chair, etc.)
- Walking/mobility
If your parent needs assistance with most of these activities throughout the day and night, 24-hour care ensures help is always available when needed.
7. Family Caregivers Are Exhausted
Caregiver burnout is a serious concern that affects both the caregiver and the person receiving care. When family members are running on empty, the quality of care suffers, and everyone's health is at risk.
Signs of caregiver burnout:
- Physical exhaustion that doesn't improve with rest
- Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless
- Depression, anxiety, or irritability
- Neglecting your own health
- Withdrawing from friends and activities
- Feeling resentful toward your parent
- Your own health is declining
Professional 24-hour care allows family members to return to being a loving son or daughter rather than an exhausted caregiver. Respite care can provide temporary relief, while full-time care addresses ongoing needs. Unsure about the differences? See our guide on live-in care vs. 24-hour shift care.
8. Nutrition and Hydration Are Declining
Poor nutrition and dehydration can rapidly worsen health and cognitive function in older adults.
Signs of nutritional concerns:
- Significant weight loss
- Forgetting to eat meals
- Unable to prepare food safely
- Eating spoiled food or inappropriate items
- Signs of dehydration (dark urine, dizziness, confusion)
- Difficulty swallowing or choking while eating
24-hour caregivers ensure regular meals are prepared and eaten, monitor fluid intake, and watch for swallowing difficulties that need medical attention.
9. Social Isolation Is Severe
Isolation can lead to depression, cognitive decline, and physical health problems. If your parent is essentially housebound without regular social interaction, continuous companionship can significantly improve quality of life.
Signs of concerning isolation:
- Rarely leaving the house or having visitors
- Withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities
- Signs of depression or apathy
- Going days without meaningful conversation
- Declining cognitive function from lack of stimulation
24-hour caregivers provide consistent companionship and engagement, reducing isolation and improving emotional well-being.
10. Crisis Events Keep Happening
If you're repeatedly dealing with emergencies—hospital visits, falls, wandering incidents, or other crises—it's a sign that current care arrangements aren't sufficient.
Crisis patterns that suggest 24-hour care is needed:
- Multiple emergency room visits in recent months
- Repeated falls with injuries
- Police involvement due to wandering
- Medical conditions repeatedly getting out of control
- Neighbors or others expressing concern about safety
24-hour care can break this cycle by providing continuous monitoring and intervention before situations become emergencies.
Benefits of 24-Hour Home Care
Choosing 24-hour home care over facility care offers several advantages:
- Familiar environment: Your parent stays in their own home, surrounded by memories and possessions
- One-on-one attention: Unlike facilities where staff care for multiple residents, home caregivers focus on one person
- Personalized care: Schedules, meals, and activities can be tailored to preferences
- Family involvement: Family can visit anytime and remain actively involved in care
- Consistency: A small team of regular caregivers provides familiarity and continuity
- Flexibility: Care can adjust as needs change
What 24-Hour Home Care Includes
Round-the-clock home care typically provides:
- Personal care: Bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting assistance
- Mobility support: Help with walking, transfers, and positioning
- Medication management: Reminders and assistance with medications
- Meal preparation: Nutritious meals tailored to dietary needs and preferences
- Light housekeeping: Maintaining a clean, safe environment
- Companionship: Conversation, activities, and emotional support
- Safety supervision: Fall prevention, wandering prevention, emergency response
- Health monitoring: Observing for changes in condition
- Appointment coordination: Transportation and accompaniment to medical visits
At Home Healers 24-Hour Care Services
At At Home Healers, we provide comprehensive 24-hour home care that allows your parent to remain safely at home with professional support. With over 20 years of combined experience serving families in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana, we understand that each situation is unique.
Our 24-hour care includes:
- Flexible shift options: 8-hour or 12-hour shifts based on your preferences
- Consistent care team: A small group of familiar caregivers
- Specialized training: Dementia care and fall prevention expertise
- Care coordination: Communication between shifts and with family
- Ongoing assessment: Regular evaluation and adjustment of care plans
We serve families throughout Fort Wayne, Columbia City, Huntington, Warsaw, and surrounding Northeast Indiana communities.
Contact us for a free consultation to discuss whether 24-hour care is right for your family.
