Care glossary · Types of care
Overnight care (sleeping and waking nights): what it means
A carer who stays the night: asleep but on call (a sleeping night) or awake throughout (a waking night).
A sleeping night suits people who need occasional help, such as reassurance or a single trip to the toilet. A waking night is for people who need regular help or monitoring through the night, and costs more because the carer is working the whole time.
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Related terms
- Live-in care: A carer who lives in the person's home, usually for one to three weeks at a time, to give support around the clock.
- Respite care: Short-term care that gives an unpaid carer a break, at home or in a care home.
Questions about overnight care (sleeping and waking nights)
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Source for provider details: CQC, Oct 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). The Care Panel is a comparison site, not a care company.