It often starts with something small. Your mother calls because she cannot remember where she put her medication. Your father has another close call getting out of the shower. A family member stops by to prepare dinner because your parent has not been eating regularly.

At first, these situations may seem manageable. You visit more often, arrange a few hours of help, or ask a relative to check in during the day. But eventually, you may start asking a difficult question: Is it still safe for my parent to be home alone?

For many families, the answer becomes harder to find as an older parent’s needs change. Someone who once needed help with grocery shopping may now need assistance getting dressed, preparing meals, using the bathroom, or moving around the house. Some older adults also need supervision because of memory loss, confusion, or nighttime activity.

When help is needed throughout the day and night, 24-hour home care may be worth considering.

There is no specific age when someone needs around-the-clock care. The decision depends on what a person can manage independently, how often they need assistance, and what could happen when nobody is available to help.

At Assisting Hands Home Care, we encourage families to pay attention to changes in everyday routines. Here are some situations that may indicate your parent needs more support than occasional caregiver visits can provide.

1. When Being Home Alone Starts to Become a Concern

One of the first things to look at is what happens during the hours nobody visits.

A parent may seem perfectly comfortable when you are there. They can hold a conversation, prepare a cup of coffee, and tell you about their plans for the week. But a short visit does not always show how they manage the rest of the day.

Think about the ordinary parts of their routine. Can they get out of bed without losing their balance? Do they remember to eat lunch? Can they get to the bathroom safely? If something unexpected happens, will they know whom to call?

The National Institute on Aging recommends looking at changes in the home, personal hygiene, eating habits, medication routines, memory, and mobility when assessing whether an older adult needs additional help.

You might notice that your parent is no longer keeping up with household tasks. Their refrigerator may be nearly empty, or they may have stopped cooking because standing in the kitchen has become tiring. Perhaps they have started wearing the same clothes for several days because getting dressed is difficult.

These changes do not necessarily mean that 24-hour care is needed immediately. They do suggest that your parent may need more help than they are currently receiving. The important thing is to understand why the changes are happening and whether your parent can manage safely between visits.

2. A Fall Can Change the Way You Look at Your Parent’s Care

Families start thinking seriously about around-the-clock care after a fall. Sometimes the injury is minor, but the circumstances surrounding it are what worry the family. An older adult might fall while getting out of bed, walking to the bathroom, or reaching for something in the kitchen. If nobody is home, even a fall without a serious injury can leave the person waiting for help.

You may also notice that your parent has become less confident about moving around. They avoid the stairs, hold onto furniture, or ask someone to walk beside them even when moving between familiar rooms.

The CDC’s guidance on preventing falls recommends reviewing medications, checking vision, improving strength and balance, and making changes around the home to reduce fall risks. Those precautions are important, but they do not replace assistance when someone needs help getting around.

Consider a parent who uses a walker but sometimes forgets to bring it when getting up at night. A family member may be able to help during evening visits, but what happens when the parent wakes up at 2 a.m.?

If your parent needs frequent assistance with walking, transferring, or using the bathroom, it is worth discussing whether overnight or more extensive care would be appropriate.

3. Memory Loss or Dementia Creates Safety Concerns

A parent living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia may still be able to move around the house, prepare simple meals, and get dressed. However, memory loss and confusion can make everyday activities unsafe without supervision.

For example, your parent may leave the stove on, take medication more than once, forget how to get home, or leave the house without understanding where they are going. Changes in behavior, including agitation, repetitive questions, confusion, and wandering, can also make it difficult to predict when assistance is needed.

Understanding common dementia behaviors and how to respond to them can help families recognize when memory-related changes may require additional support.

One challenge is that a parent may appear perfectly fine during a short family visit but experience confusion or unsafe behavior when left alone. Families should consider their parent’s behavior throughout the day and night, not just how they seem when someone is present.

If memory loss is affecting your parent’s ability to stay safe at home, speak with their healthcare provider about the level of supervision they need. Depending on the frequency of confusion, wandering, and other safety concerns, 24-hour home care may be appropriate.

4. Your Parent Becomes Confused or Restless at Night

Some families find that their parent’s care needs are manageable during the day but become more difficult after bedtime.

An older adult may wake up several times during the night, attempt to walk around without assistance, or become confused about where they are. Someone with dementia may also experience increased restlessness or disorientation in the evening.

Watch for situations such as:

• Getting out of bed repeatedly.
• Walking around the house without assistance.
• Having difficulty finding the bathroom.
• Becoming confused about whether it is morning or nighttime.
• Attempting to leave the home after dark.
• Needing help with bathroom visits throughout the night.

For example: Your father goes to bed around 9 p.m., but he wakes up several times before morning. He sometimes forgets where the bathroom is and needs help walking there. Your family has started taking turns staying overnight because you are worried about him falling.

If this becomes a regular pattern, an overnight caregiver or a more extensive care schedule may be worth exploring.

5. Your Parent Cannot Be Left Alone for Several Hours

This is one of the most important questions families should consider when evaluating whether part-time care is still enough.

Your parent may seem comfortable during a short visit. They can talk with you, eat a meal, and enjoy their usual activities. But what happens after you leave?

Can they prepare lunch safely? Will they remember to use their walker? Can they call someone if they fall? What happens if they become confused or need help getting to the bathroom?

For example: Your mother receives caregiver assistance every morning. After the caregiver leaves, she sometimes forgets to eat lunch. She has also left a pot on the stove and walked into another room without turning it off.

In this situation, the concern is not simply that she needs help preparing food. It is that she may not recognize or respond to everyday safety risks when she is alone.

The National Institute on Aging recommends looking at changes in an older adult’s home environment, including whether they can prepare meals safely, maintain personal hygiene, manage medications, and move around without difficulty. If your parent needs someone available throughout the day, a few scheduled visits may no longer meet their needs.

6. Meals Are Being Missed and Your Parent Is Not Drinking Enough Water

Changes in eating habits can be easy to overlook, particularly when family members do not live with their parents. An older adult may have difficulty shopping, preparing meals, opening food containers, or remembering to eat. Some may lose interest in cooking when preparing food for one person becomes difficult. You might notice:

• Food spoiling in the refrigerator.
• Very few groceries in the kitchen.
• Unexplained weight changes.
• Unfinished meals.
• Frequent reliance on snacks instead of regular meals.
• Signs of dehydration or unusual weakness.

7. Your Parent Needs More Help After a Hospital Stay

A hospital discharge does not always mean an older adult is ready to manage independently at home. After an illness, surgery, or fall, your parent may return home with less strength, limited mobility, or new daily care needs. Tasks that were previously easy may suddenly require assistance.

For example, your father may have been able to walk to the kitchen before his hospitalization. After returning home, he needs help getting out of bed, preparing meals, and moving around safely.

Your family may be able to help in the morning and evening, but what happens during the rest of the day?

Depending on his recovery, he may need additional help with:

• Getting dressed and bathing.
• Preparing meals.
• Moving around the home.
• Following daily routines.
• Attending appointments.
• Remembering medication schedules.

A home care arrangement can provide assistance with daily activities during recovery. If skilled nursing, physical therapy, or other medical services are needed, those should be coordinated separately with qualified healthcare professionals.

8. Family Members Are Struggling to Keep Up With Caregiving Responsibilities

Sometimes, the person who needs more help is not the only one showing signs of strain. Family caregivers may also be reaching their limits.

An adult child might work full time, raise children, manage household responsibilities, and still try to coordinate a parent’s care. Another sibling may be making frequent trips to the parent’s home or staying overnight several times a week.

At first, the family may manage by dividing responsibilities. But as the parent’s needs increase, that arrangement can become difficult to maintain.

Ask yourself:

• Are you regularly missing work to help your parent?
• Are family members taking turns staying overnight?
• Are you losing sleep because you are worried about your parent?
• Are siblings disagreeing about who should provide care?
• Have you stopped taking vacations or making personal plans?
• Is caregiving affecting your own health or family life?

9. Your Parent’s Current Home Care Schedule Is No Longer Enough

An older adult may start with a few hours of assistance each week. As their needs change, the schedule may increase to several hours each day. Eventually, even longer visits may not provide enough coverage.

For example, a caregiver may help with bathing and breakfast in the morning, but your parent may also need assistance preparing lunch, using the bathroom, getting ready for bed, and moving around during the night.

If your family is constantly trying to fill the gaps between caregiver visits, it may be time to consider a different arrangement. The important question is not simply how many hours your parent receives care. It is whether their needs are being met during the hours when nobody is available.

What Is the Difference Between Live-In Care and 24-Hour Home Care?

Live-in care and 24-hour home care may sound like the same thing, but the way care is provided can be quite different. The main distinction comes down to caregiver schedules, overnight support, and whether someone needs to be awake and available at all times.

Here is how the arrangements generally compare:

The right arrangement depends on what happens throughout your parent’s day, not just how much help they need in the morning or afternoon.

A parent who needs help getting dressed, preparing meals, and keeping up with daily routines may do well with scheduled visits. But if they get out of bed several times each night, need help getting to the bathroom, or become confused and disoriented after dark, daytime assistance may not be enough.

This is where the difference between live-in and shift-based care becomes especially important. A live-in caregiver needs time to rest, so this arrangement may not be suitable for someone who requires frequent attention throughout the night. With shift-based 24-hour care, caregivers work in rotations, allowing for continuous coverage.

Talk With Assisting Hands About 24-Hour Home Care in Downers Grove, IL & DuPage County

If your aging parent needs help throughout the day and night, Assisting Hands Home Care provides 24-hour home care in Downers Grove, IL, and nearby communities. Our team can discuss your loved one’s daily care needs, explain available services, and help your family understand what level of support may be appropriate.

Contact Assisting Hands Home Care to talk about 24-hour care options for your loved one and take the next step toward getting additional help at home.

FAQs

What is the biggest sign an elderly parent needs 24-hour care?

One of the strongest signs is that your parent cannot safely remain alone for extended periods. This may be related to frequent falls, dementia-related safety concerns, nighttime confusion, or the need for assistance throughout the day.

Can an elderly person receive 24-hour care and continue living at home?

Yes, depending on their health and care needs. Caregivers can assist with personal care, meals, mobility, companionship, and everyday routines. However, home care does not replace skilled nursing or emergency medical treatment when those services are required.

What conditions require 24-hour care?

Conditions such as advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke-related disabilities, and severe mobility limitations may require 24-hour home care when they prevent someone from safely managing daily activities or being left alone. The need for continuous care depends on the person’s symptoms, level of independence, and need for supervision or assistance throughout the day and night.

How much does 24 hour home care cost in Illinois?

The cost of 24-hour home care in Illinois typically ranges from $500 to $800 per day, depending on the level of assistance, caregiver schedule, location, and whether care is provided by one live-in caregiver or multiple caregivers working in shifts.