Respite Care in Canada: What It Is, How to Get It, and What It Costs

If you're caring for someone with a disability, you already know the exhaustion. The 24/7 nature of caregiving takes a physical, emotional, and financial toll that most people don't understand until they live it. Respite care exists to give you a break — but accessing it in Canada can feel like navigating a maze.

What Is Respite Care?

Respite care is temporary relief for primary caregivers. It can be:

• In-home respite — A trained worker comes to your home
• Out-of-home respite — The person with a disability stays at a group home, host family, or facility
• Day programs — Structured activities during daytime hours
• Emergency respite — Short-notice care during crisis situations
• Recreational respite — Summer camps, weekend programs, or activity groups

How Much Does It Cost?

Costs vary enormously depending on the province, the type of care, and whether you qualify for government funding:

• Government-funded respite: Free or heavily subsidized through provincial programs
• Agency-based: $20-40/hour for a support worker
• Specialized care (medical needs): $30-60/hour
• Overnight/residential respite: $150-400/night

Most families use a combination of funded hours and self-pay.

Province-by-Province Funding

Ontario: - Special Services at Home (SSAH) provides funding for respite and other supports - Passport Program for adults with developmental disabilities - Typical funding: $3,000-$35,000/year depending on assessed need - Warning: Waitlists can be 2-5+ years

British Columbia: - At Home Program provides respite for children with special needs - Community Living BC (CLBC) provides adult respite - Typical funding: Varies based on assessment - BC has some of the longest waitlists in the country for CLBC services

Alberta: - Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) provides respite funding - Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) for adults - Typical funding: Based on individual needs assessment - Tip: FSCD respite is more accessible than in most provinces — apply early

Quebec: - CLSC (local community service centres) coordinate respite services - Répit-dépannage provides emergency and planned respite - Services are accessed through the CISSS/CIUSSS in your region

Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Atlantic Provinces: - All have respite programs through their disability services departments - Funding levels tend to be lower than Ontario, BC, and Alberta - Search our directory for province-specific respite organizations

How to Access Government-Funded Respite

1. Contact your provincial disability services office — Every province has an intake process. You'll need a diagnosis and usually a needs assessment.
2. Get on the waitlist immediately — Even if you don't need respite today, waitlists can be years long. Apply now.
3. Ask about interim supports — Some provinces offer short-term or emergency respite while you wait for full funding.
4. Check if you qualify for multiple programs — A child may qualify for both disability respite and children's mental health respite through different ministries.

Finding Respite Providers

Once you have funding (or are self-paying), you need to find workers. Options include:

• Respite agencies — They hire, train, and manage workers for you
• Independent workers — You hire directly (often cheaper but you manage scheduling)
• Host families — Some provinces fund host family respite where the person stays with a trained family
• Camps and recreation programs — Particularly good for children and teens

Search our directory for respite organizations in your province.

Tax Relief for Respite Costs

If you're paying out of pocket, these tax credits can help:

• Medical expense tax credit — Respite care qualifies if prescribed by a doctor
• Canada Caregiver Credit — Up to $7,999 in tax relief for caregivers
• Disability supports deduction — Deduct attendant care costs paid to allow the caregiver to work

What to Do Right Now

1. Apply for your provincial respite program today, even if you're coping fine — the waitlist starts when you apply
2. Search our directory for respite organizations in your area
3. Connect with other caregivers through family support groups — they know the local shortcuts
4. Look into the DTC if you haven't already — many respite programs require it