What a sitting service is for
A sit-in service is exactly what it sounds like. A carer comes and stays for an agreed stretch of time, so that the person is not left on their own. It is not built around tasks. The point is presence.
Families use it for two different reasons, and they lead to quite different visits. Sometimes it is about safety: someone cannot be left alone for long because of falls, confusion or a condition that can turn quickly. Sometimes it is about cover: the person doing the caring has to be somewhere else, and there is no one to hand over to.
Common arrangements
- A weekly afternoon so a spouse can get to their own appointments
- Evenings, which are often the hardest part of the day for confusion and anxiety
- A regular slot so an adult child can work, or sleep, without their phone in their hand
- Cover while family are at a wedding, a funeral, or away for the weekend
- Sitting after a discharge from hospital, during the fortnight when everyone is nervous
- Overnight support where someone is unsettled at night
It is not passive. The carer will talk, make tea, help to the toilet, prepare something to eat, keep an eye on the stairs and step in if something happens. It just is not organised around a list of jobs to complete before leaving.
Where it fits
A sit-in service overlaps with companionship care, and for many people the difference is only emphasis: companionship is about the person having company, sitting is about the person not being alone. Where the need becomes constant, live-in care is usually the better answer, and where family need a longer break, respite care is the right service.
It is also frequently used alongside palliative care, where the most valuable thing an agency can provide is somebody sitting with a person overnight so their family can sleep.
Questions families ask
How long can a sit-in visit be?
From an hour or two up to a full day or an overnight. Regular short sits and occasional long ones are both common.
Can the carer give personal care during a sit?
Yes. Help to the toilet, a hand with changing, and other personal care can all be included. Tell us at the assessment so the right carer is allocated.
Do you do overnight sitting?
Yes, both waking nights, where the carer stays awake, and sleeping nights, where they are there and available if needed. Which one is appropriate depends on how often someone needs support in the night.
What if something goes wrong while we are out?
The carer follows the plan agreed with you, contacts emergency services where that is warranted, and contacts you. You will not find out afterwards.
Talk it through with Jackie
No call centre and no obligation. Tell us what you are dealing with and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.