What is respite care?

Respite care is temporary relief for a primary family caregiver — time away from caregiving responsibilities. It can be a few hours a week or an extended period (days or weeks) during which someone else cares for your loved one while you rest, work, or attend to your own needs.

Respite is not a luxury. It is a recognized component of a sustainable caregiving system. Without it, caregiver burnout is much more likely.

Types of respite available in Quebec

In-home respite

A trained worker comes to the home to care for your loved one while you take time away. This can be arranged through the CLSC, community organizations, or private agencies.

Day programs

Adult day programs provide structured activities and supervision during the day, typically several days per week. They allow your loved one to socialize and receive care while you have uninterrupted time. Available through community organizations and some CLSCs.

Short-stay respite (hebergement de répit)

Some residential facilities offer short-term stays — typically a few days to a few weeks — to provide extended respite for caregivers. Wait lists exist, so plan ahead.

Emergency respite

For situations where the caregiver is suddenly unavailable (illness, family emergency), some CLSCs and community organizations maintain emergency respite programs. Contact your care coordinator or 211 Québec immediately if you face an emergency.

How to access respite through the CLSC

Ask your care coordinator whether respite services are included in (or can be added to) the current care plan. If your situation as a caregiver has become unsustainable, request a reassessment — caregiver capacity is part of the CLSC's assessment framework.

Community respite through L'Appui

L'Appui pour les proches aidants maintains a network of respite programs across Quebec. Their website (lappui.org) and the 211 Québec directory both allow you to search for respite services by region.

L'Appui also funds some respite programs through a financial assistance program (PSPA) — see the Financial Assistance article for more detail.

Private respite

Private home care agencies can provide respite workers directly. This is typically paid out-of-pocket, though some tax credits and allowance programs can partially offset costs.

Call 211 Québec (dial 2-1-1) for a guided search of respite options in your area.