Orleans, Ottawa · Serving Ottawa and up to 50 km around the cityOrleans, Ottawa
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM(343) 644-3431
- Personal Care and PSW Support
- Companion Care
- Respite Care
- Dementia and Alzheimer's Care
- 24 Hour and Live-In Care
- Home Help, Meals and Transportation
- Orleans and East Ottawa
- Gloucester and South Ottawa
- Central Ottawa
- Nepean and Bells Corners
- Barrhaven and Manotick
- Kanata and Stittsville
- Rockland
- Embrun, Russell and Casselman
- Carleton Place, Almonte and Arnprior
- Kemptville, Winchester and Morrisburg
Ottawa Respite Care
Respite care in Ottawa gives a family caregiver time off while a trained caregiver looks after their parent, spouse or relative at home. 1st Home Health Care sends caregivers to your home for a few hours, a full day, overnight or several days, so you can rest, work, travel or simply sleep. This is non-medical care: we do not give medication, change dressings or do nursing procedures. Our office is on Talcy Crescent in Orleans.
Respite Care for Caregivers in Ottawa
Most family caregivers did not plan to become one. A parent has a fall, a spouse's memory starts to fade, and gradually the job of keeping someone safe and well takes over the day. Respite care is the practical answer to that. It is a planned break, so the person you look after is cared for while you step away.
Statistics Canada reports that about 7.8 million Canadians, roughly one in four people aged 15 and older, provided care to a family member or friend in 2018. Many of them do it alongside a job and a family of their own. Respite care for family caregivers does not replace the love and attention you give. It protects it, because a caregiver who sleeps, eats properly and gets out of the house has more to give.
We treat every client like family. That means the same caregiver whenever we can, so your parent is not meeting a stranger each time, and a care plan written around their routine, not ours.
What Respite Care Covers
When you take a break, your parent's day carries on as normal. Our caregivers follow the routine you give them and take over whatever you would usually do:
- help with bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
- breakfast, lunch and dinner, cooked the way your parent likes them
- help moving safely around the house, from bed to chair and up and down the stairs
- light housekeeping and laundry
- company, conversation, cards, a walk or a drive to an appointment
- overnight presence, so you can sleep through the night
Depending on what your parent needs, we send a personal support worker (PSW) for hands-on care, or a sitter for company and supervision. Our PSWs are certified, and our sitters, who take on lighter duties, hold CPR certification. We are insured and bonded, our caregivers are covered by WSIB, and we run Police Vulnerable Sector Checks on our caregivers.
Before the first break, we visit your home, meet your parent and write down the routine, likes, dislikes and any safety concerns. That way the caregiver arrives knowing what a normal day looks like.
How Long Respite Care Can Last
Respite care can be as short as a morning or as long as a few weeks. We offer care around the clock, so the length is set by what you need, not by a fixed package.
Most families start small. A few hours a week is often enough to go to a doctor's appointment, shop, see a friend or go to work. Others book a full day every week, or an overnight stay so one person in the house can sleep properly. A longer stretch usually covers a holiday, a hospital stay of your own, or a family wedding out of town.
Short Term Respite Care Ottawa Families Book
Short term respite care in Ottawa often follows a specific event: you are having surgery, your usual helper is away, or your parent has just come home from hospital and you need a few weeks to find your feet. Tell us the dates and what is going on. We will tell you what we can cover and how we would set it up. Overnight and 24-hour cover is available.
Planned Respite vs Emergency Respite
Planned respite is a break you schedule in advance, on a regular day each week or for a trip you have put in the calendar. It is the better option. A regular caregiver gets to know your parent's habits, and your parent gets used to having them around. Relief that is scheduled works better than relief taken after you have already hit a wall.
Emergency respite is care you need at short notice: you are sick, a parent has come home from hospital earlier than expected, or the person who normally helps has left. Call us and tell us what has happened. We will tell you how quickly we can start and who we can send.
Even if you only ever need emergency help, a short meeting in advance is worth having. Once we know your parent and your home, a call in a crisis becomes a quick decision instead of a long explanation.
Signs You Need a Break
Caregiver burnout builds slowly, and most people do not see it in themselves. The warning signs include:
- you are tired all the time, even after a night in bed
- you feel angry, short-tempered or resentful toward the person you care for, and then guilty about it
- you have stopped seeing friends or doing things you enjoy
- you are catching every cold, or you are putting off your own medical appointments
- you are sleeping badly, or you wake up worrying
- you feel sad, hopeless or numb about the future
If several of these sound familiar, you need a break now, not when things get easier. Taking one is not a failure, and it does not mean you love your parent any less. The Ontario Caregiver Organization runs a free helpline for family caregivers, open 24 hours a day, at 1-833-416-2273. You can call it to talk things through, and then call us when you are ready to arrange a break. You can read more on the Ontario Caregiver Organization website.
Respite for Dementia Caregivers
Caring for someone with dementia is among the most tiring kinds of caregiving, because it rarely stops. There is the repeating of questions, the wandering at night, the late-afternoon restlessness and the constant watching. Most people who do it say they cannot remember their last full day off.
We accept clients living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Our caregivers keep the day predictable, offer gentle reminders, redirect when confusion sets in and stay calm when a conversation goes in circles. A familiar face on the same days each week helps the person you care for, as well as you. Read more about dementia care at home in Ottawa, or visit the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County for local programs and support groups.
What Respite Care Costs
Our rates run from $35 to $45 per hour. The exact rate depends on the type of care and the hours you need. A PSW giving hands-on care and a sitter providing company are priced differently, and overnight or 24-hour cover is planned and quoted with you. We will give you the price before care begins.
We work with private-pay clients and with clients funded through Ontario Health atHome, the provincial agency that assesses people for publicly funded home care. If your parent has not been assessed, you can ask Ontario Health atHome whether they qualify. Many families combine publicly funded hours with private ones. Our home care cost guide explains rates, funding and tax credits in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is respite care and how does it work?
Respite care is temporary care that gives a family caregiver a break. A caregiver comes to your home and looks after your parent while you rest, work or travel. It can be a few hours a week, a full day, overnight or several weeks. It can be planned in advance or arranged at short notice.
How long can respite care last?
It can last from a few hours to several weeks. We provide care around the clock, so the length depends on what you need. Many families start with a few hours a week and adjust. Tell us your dates and what is happening, and we will confirm what we can cover.
What is caregiver burnout?
Caregiver burnout is physical and emotional exhaustion from looking after someone for a long time without enough rest. Signs include constant tiredness, irritability, withdrawing from friends, poor sleep and frequent illness. Regular respite care is one of the most practical ways to prevent it. The Ontario Caregiver Organization helpline is 1-833-416-2273.
Can you provide respite care for someone with dementia?
Yes. We accept clients living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Our caregivers keep to a steady routine, give gentle reminders and stay calm through confusion or restlessness. We will meet you and your parent first, so the caregiver knows the daily routine before you take your break.
How much does respite care cost in Ottawa?
Our rates run from $35 to $45 per hour, depending on the type of care and the hours needed. A PSW and a sitter are priced differently, and overnight or 24-hour cover is quoted with you. We give you the price before care begins.
Is respite care covered by the government in Ontario?
Some publicly funded support may be available. Ontario Health atHome assesses people for publicly funded home care, and the Ontario Caregiver Organization can point you to programs. We work with private-pay clients and with clients funded through Ontario Health atHome. Call us and we can talk through your situation.
Take the Break You Have Earned
If you are tired, say so. Call us and tell us what is going on. We will listen, explain your options and, if respite care in Ottawa is the right fit, set up a visit to meet you and your parent.