Respite Care

Introduction to Respite Care

Respite Care is the break that caregivers get by allowing someone else to temporarily take over some of their caregiving duties. Used on a regular basis, Respite Care helps prevent caregiver burnout, by relieving some of the caregiver's workload and stress.

Respite Care usually takes one of three forms:

1. arrangements can be made for someone to come into the home to look after or sit with the care recipient (even if the caregiver is at home)
2. the care recipient can be booked for a short stay (overnight, weekend, a week or more) in a long-term care or other facility
3. the care recipient can be registered to attend an adult day program

Respite Care gives caregivers time off to:

• relax
• socialize with friends and family
• attend to other responsibilities
• recover from some of the stresses of caregiving
• renew their energies to continue providing quality care.

Respite Care may also provide care recipients an opportunity to:

• meet with people outside the immediate family
• participate in social and recreational activities
• make new friends
• maintain a sense of identity and purpose

Respite Care is available through some provincial and territorial home care programs. Check with your local health agency for availability and fees. Respite Care may also be obtained through community organizations, volunteer organizations, not-for-profit agencies and through private Respite Care agencies and individuals.

More About Respite Care

There are various ways to help the regular caregiver, who is often a family member, to have a break or do some things for themselves. These services are called Respite Care services, and there are three ways that they can be provided: In-home Respite Care, Respite Care Adult day programs, and short-stay Respite Care.

In-home Respite Care
This Respite Care service brings someone to your own home to provide help with needed services (e.g. personal care) and to allow a regular family caregiver to take a break.

If you are eligible for services co-ordinated by the CCAC, in-home Respite Care is paid for by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Otherwise, these Respite Care services may be available from various providers, in which case there is likely to be a consumer fee for these Respite Care services.

Respite Care Adult day programs
These Respite Care programs provide social and other therapeutic activities at a location outside your home. Respite Care Programs usually include planned recreation and physical activities, meals, transportation to the Respite Care program and some personal care. There can be a consumer fee for this Respite Care service to cover the meals and transportation costs (approximately $15 to $50 per day). Subsidies may be available.

Short-stay Respite Care
The temporary Respite Care care provided in a long-term care home under "caregiver respite" is considered a "short stay" and is subject to an accommodation rate which is different from the regular (i.e. long-stay) home accommodation rate. There is a consumer fee for this Respite Care service.

Tips on Choosing Respite Care

Feel free to contact us at 1-800-311-CARE or info@thecareguide.com should you have any questions or require further assistance in finding appropriate Respite Care.