24/7 & Live-In (Around-the-Clock) Care
About this service
Continuous, in-home coverage for clients who need frequent or constant assistance—day and night. We staff either (a) rotating 8–12-hour shifts or (b) a live-in model with defined rest periods, so essential personal care, safety supervision, medication routines, and overnight reassurance never lapse. In Alberta, publicly funded Home Care supports are accessed after an AHS assessment through your zone’s intake lines; after-hours clinical support is available to current Home Care clients, but families commonly use private, around-the-clock staffing when needs exceed authorized hours or when they want one team continuously at home.
Who it's for
- People with advanced dementia, high fall risk, wandering, sleep–wake reversal, or frequent overnight toileting/turning.
- Clients in complex recovery (e.g., early post-discharge with multiple care tasks) or those needing continuous observation and rapid escalation.
- Families seeking single-site continuity (one consistent setting, fewer transitions) rather than facility respite or frequent moves between settings.
- Situations where publicly authorized hours (e.g., CDHCI) cover some needs, but additional private staffing fills the 24/7 gap.
What´s included in the service?
Day & night routines
ADLs (bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers), meal/snack prep, hydration prompts, bedtime/overnight checks, and morning readiness.
Continuous safety & supervision
Calm cueing, wandering prevention, stove/door checks, fall-prevention around bathrooms, stairs, and bed–chair transfers.
Overnight reassurance
Calm cueing, wandering prevention, stove/door checks, fall-prevention around bathrooms, stairs, and bed–chair transfers.
Care coordination
Handover between shifts, concise daily summaries for family, and linkages to Home Care, primary care, and pharmacy.
Optional nurse touchpoints
Scheduled LPN/RN visits for wound/skin, injections, catheter/ostomy, med setup, or infusion (see Nursing Care category).
Coverage models
Rotating shifts (e.g., 2 × 12-hour or 3 × 8-hour) or live-in with defined sleep/rest. We design schedules that manage fatigue risk (limits on night shift length/number and structured handovers). Guidance from Canadian agencies highlights higher fatigue risk with extended/night shifts and recommends prudent limits.
Frequently asked questions
Is 24/7 care funded under CDHCI/AHS?
CDHCI authorizes specific service types and hours after an AHS assessment (e.g., personal care, essential health-linked homemaking, in-home respite), billed directly to Alberta Blue Cross. Families often add private hours to reach true 24/7 coverage or to have a single team at home continuously.
How do you keep caregivers and clients safe across long schedules?
We avoid excessive night stretches and over-length shifts, build in handovers, and monitor workload. Canadian safety guidance notes fatigue risk rises with long or night shifts and recommends limiting shift length and ensuring recovery periods.
What happens if we need clinical advice at 2 a.m.?
If you are an AHS Home Care client, your zone provides after-hours nursing support/triage lines. We follow your escalation plan (e.g., call the after-hours line, 811 Health Link, or emergency services when appropriate).
What’s the difference between rotating shifts and live-in?
Rotating shifts: 8–12-hour blocks with waking coverage; best for high activity or complex care.
Live-in: One caregiver remains in the home with defined off-duty/sleep times; suited to lower overnight workload and strong routine.
We’ll assess risks, home layout, and budget to recommend the model.
Can nursing tasks be added to 24/7 care?
Yes. We layer LPN/RN visits for wound care, injections, catheter/ostomy, or med setup; if eligible, some nursing may be publicly arranged through AHS, with private nurse visits added as needed (see Nursing Care).
Download our guide
Check out our guide to Home and Community Care.