What is respite?

The main function of respite care is to support the family or primary caregiver for a specific period of time, while facilitating a positive and rewarding experience for the person with a disability. Respite supports are intended to help strengthen the family’s ability to care for their child in the family home.

What are the benefits of respite?

  • Meet the care needs of the child 

  • Offers the child opportunities to develop social, recreational, and life skills 

  • Strengthens families by reducing stress and thereby improving long-term functioning 

  • Maintains or enhances the quality of life for families of children with disabilities 

  • Increases parental feelings of well-being and mental health 

  • Reduces social isolation and caregiver burnout 

  • Improves parental ability to cope 

  • Helps create space for strengthening relationships (spousal, sibling, individual with disability, friends, family, etc.) 

 

What are the advantages of private respite and agency respite? 

Private Respite (home/neighbourhood/community)

  • Child and family routines and relationships are retained 

  • The child's surroundings are familiar 

  • Special equipment used by the child is not needed in more than one site 

  • Transportation may not be necessary 

Agency Respite (community/agency location)

  • Child gets a change in routine and has the opportunity to socialize and develop relationships 

  • Parents can concentrate on their other children, themselves, or other activities 

  • The family may not need to leave their home which involves less cost