Private Sitters for Elderly Patients in Fort Myers and Cape Coral: At Home, in the Hospital, or in Rehab

Scott Strachan, RN, BSN, owner of Abby Services, with his hand on his heart, with an armchair beside a hospital bed near a sunny window in the background

Proudly serving families in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Bonita Springs, and surrounding Southwest Florida communities.

In This Article

Yes, you can hire a private sitter to stay with your loved one at home, in the hospital, or in a rehab facility. A sitter is a screened, one-on-one companion who keeps watch, helps with comfort and everyday needs, and alerts staff or family when something seems wrong. It is often the answer when a hospital tells you your parent shouldn’t be left alone, especially at night, when confusion and fall risk are highest. Call us, and we can start identifying available sitters for your situation right away.

What does a private sitter for elderly patients do?

Private sitters provide companionship and safety oversight for seniors who shouldn’t be alone but don’t necessarily need hands-on medical care. That can look like conversation and activities, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, help getting to appointments, and — above all — a second set of eyes. As mobility issues, memory loss, or chronic conditions make full independence harder, a sitter bridges the gap between doing everything alone and needing full-time care.

For families, the value is often as much about peace of mind as practical help. You can’t be there around the clock. A good sitter means someone is.

Private sitters in hospitals, rehab, and other facilities

Here’s something many families don’t realize: private sitters aren’t just for the home. Hospitals and nursing facilities sometimes require — or families simply want — a dedicated sitter to stay with an elderly patient, often because of fall risk, confusion, or wandering concerns. Facility staff are stretched across many patients; a private sitter is there for one.

Many of the sitters we refer have experience in settings like Lee Health facilities throughout Fort Myers and Cape Coral, rehab centers during recovery, nursing facilities, and even dialysis sessions. Our philosophy is simple: we help wherever home is at the moment — whether that’s a house in Cape Coral or a hospital room at HealthPark. Sitter support also pairs naturally with hospital and rehab discharge transitions, when an extra set of hands and eyes matters most.

Sitter, companion, or caregiver — what’s the difference?

The terms overlap, and that’s okay. “Sitter” and “companion” generally describe watchful company and light household help — what our companion care page covers. When your loved one needs hands-on assistance with bathing, dressing, transfers, or toileting, that’s personal care. Fortunately, the caregivers we refer can provide hands-on care too, because they are home health aides (HHAs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). That means the same person who sits with your loved one can also help with bathing, dressing, transfers and getting to the bathroom when it’s needed. If you’re not sure which fits, that’s a normal place to be — our RN is available to help you identify the type of support your loved one needs, and you decide what to request.

How sitter arrangements work with Abby Services

Abby Services is a Florida-licensed nurse registry. We don’t employ sitters — we refer independent, self-employed sitters and caregivers who have passed Level 2 background screening and meet Florida’s state requirements. We identify sitters based on the criteria you provide, you set the schedule and direct the services, and you can request a replacement at any time, which keeps arrangements flexible: hourly visits, overnight care, or around-the-clock coverage for higher-need situations.

Scheduled services can be cancelled or modified with 24 hours’ notice, and there’s no long-term commitment — the details are in plain English in our guide to in-home care contracts and cancellation. Because sitters are independent and set their own rates, families often find this one of the most affordable ways to arrange one-on-one attention.

Finding the right sitter in Fort Myers and Cape Coral

We’ve been matching local families with caregivers and sitters since 1997 — we know the area because we live here. When you call, we learn about your loved one’s needs, personality, schedule, and budget, then identify sitters from our registry who could be a good fit. If the first match isn’t quite right, we keep looking; in our experience, you don’t marry the first person you go on a date with.

Start your search here or call us at 239-590-0861 to talk through your situation — whether you need a sitter for a hospital stay next week or ongoing companionship at home.

Frequently asked questions

What is a private sitter for an elderly patient?

A private sitter provides one-on-one supervision, companionship, and light assistance for a senior who shouldn’t be left alone — at home, in a hospital, or in a care facility. Sitters focus on safety and company rather than hands-on medical care.

Can a private sitter stay with my loved one in the hospital or rehab?

Yes. Families often arrange private sitters for hospital or rehab stays, especially when a patient is a fall risk or experiences confusion. Facility staff cover many patients at once; a private sitter is dedicated to yours. Many sitters referred by Abby Services have experience in local hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing facilities.

How quickly can a sitter start?

Often within about 24 hours. In our experience, the biggest delay isn’t finding a sitter — it’s paperwork. Families who promptly review the client agreement and complete payment information can usually get support in place quickly, which matters when a hospital stay or discharge is already underway.

How much notice do I need to cancel or change sitter services?

Scheduled services can be cancelled or modified with at least 24 hours’ notice. There’s no long-term contract, so families can adjust as needs change — adding hours during a rough stretch or scaling back when things stabilize.

What’s the difference between a sitter and a caregiver?

A sitter or companion provides supervision, company, and light household help. A caregiver providing personal care assists hands-on with bathing, dressing, transfers, and similar needs, and holds the appropriate credentials. Abby Services can refer both, and many families transition from one to the other as needs evolve.

Scott Strachan

Scott Strachan

Scott Strachan, RN, BSN, has spent nearly two decades operating a Florida-licensed nurse registry, drawing on firsthand experience as a caregiver, a registered nurse, and a nurse registry owner to help families in Southwest Florida find the right in-home caregiver.

Scott's healthcare career began as a Certified Nursing Assistant, providing hands-on care in clients' homes. He went on to earn his BSN from Penn State and become a registered nurse, with clinical experience spanning medical-surgical nursing, hospice and palliative care, oncology, orthopedics, medical/surgical and neuro intensive care, cardiac rehab, and in-home care, across institutions including Tampa General, Broward General, Lee Health, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, and Phoenix Memorial.

Since 2007, Scott has owned and operated Abby Services, a Florida-licensed nurse registry serving Lee, Collier, and Charlotte Counties. That work has given him firsthand knowledge of caregiver referrals, client-directed care, caregiver qualifications, documentation, and the everyday realities families face when they need help finding a caregiver fast.

Scott serves as Vice President of PCA Florida (Private Care Association) and has served on its national board, regularly meeting with AHCA and Florida legislators on issues affecting the nurse registry industry. He's also the founder and host of The Nurse Registry Podcast, and founder of Nurse Registry Consultant LLC. Together with his brother, Shae Strachan, Scott also co-developed C-E-U.com, a continuing education platform for caregivers and nurses, and MyHealthForm.com, an online health-screening solution for caregivers.

Florida RN License #9224129, Active. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Penn State.