In-Home Respite Care for Family Caregivers
Take the time to breathe.
Caring for a loved one takes a lot of energy. Our respite care in Montreal gives family caregivers time to rest, keep their own appointments or go away for a few days, while our care team takes over at home, in a seniors’ residence or at the hospital.
Respite Care, Explained
What is respite care?
Respite care is temporary care for seniors and adults who need help, so that the family caregiver who usually looks after them can take a break. It can last a few hours, a night, a weekend or several days, and it takes place where your loved one already lives.
With Equinoxe LifeCare, respite can last a few hours (4 hours minimum per shift), an evening or a night, a weekend or a statutory holiday, or several days in a row while you are on vacation.
Caring for You
When is it time for respite?
Caring for a loved one takes a lot of energy. Resting is also a way of caring for them.
Respite isn’t only for emergencies. Many caregivers plan it ahead, as part of a routine they can keep up over time.
Read more about caregiver burnout: signs, prevention and support.
A regular break
The same evening every week, for example.
Your appointments
A medical visit, a work commitment, a family matter.
Time for yourself
Rest, a hobby, seeing friends.
A few days away
A vacation, a trip.
Full nights of sleep
When sleep at home is often interrupted.
Overnight careYour health
A hospital stay or a recovery.
What research says
Taking a break: what the numbers show.
In Quebec, many people care for a loved one, often at the cost of their own energy. Here is what the data shows, and how we respond.
1 in 5
In Quebec, one in five people aged 15 and over is a family caregiver. Nearly one in three of them spends 10 hours or more a week on it.1
What we do
Shifts of at least 4 hours, day, evening or night, on weekends and holidays.
56%
of family caregivers say they feel tired because of their caregiving, and 3 in 10 have disturbed sleep.2
What we do
Respite nights, with someone awake by your loved one’s side, so you can finally sleep.
44%
of family caregivers felt worried or anxious in the past year.2
What we do
A trusted team, your Care Manager and an on-call line 24 hours a day, so you can take your break with peace of mind.
1. Institut de la statistique du Québec, Portrait of informal caregiving in 2018 (2022). 2. Statistics Canada, The Daily, November 8, 2022, Canadian data. Last updated: September 2026.
Peace of Mind
Solid support, for worry-free respite.
A real break means leaving with a clear mind and a light heart, knowing your loved one is in good hands.
Your Care Manager: a dedicated person who gets to know your loved one and your routine.
No shift left uncovered: if something unexpected comes up, our team makes sure someone is always there for your loved one.
Your loved one is entrusted to kind, caring caregivers: chosen for that very quality, within a team we keep stable around your loved one.
Someone to call at any time: Care Managers during office hours, and an on-call team 24 hours a day, including evenings, weekends and statutory holidays.
An extra safety net at home: LifeCare Plus can detect suspected falls, day and night.
No long-term contract: occasional or regular respite, as you need it.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Something unexpected? Someone answers, day and night.
A question or something unexpected, in the evening, on a weekend or a holiday: our on-call team answers, 24 hours a day.
Public and Private Respite
Public or private respite: how to combine them.
In Quebec, respite is also offered through the public network and community organizations. The two complement each other, and many families use both.
Public and community network
CLSC, L’Appui, community organizations
Your CLSC is the entry point: it assesses your loved one’s needs and can refer you to respite services in your area.
- Free or reduced cost, depending on the program
- Access through a needs assessment
- Hours and availability that vary by program and area
- Info-aidant line from L’Appui: 1 855 852-7784, free and confidential
Equinoxe LifeCare
Private respite care
A private service can fill in where public hours stop, or while you wait for them.
- Day, evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts
- No shift left unfilled
- A minimum of 4 hours per shift, with no weekly minimum
- At home, in a seniors’ residence or at the hospital
- Kind, caring caregivers
- Matching that also takes language into account: our caregivers speak English, French, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Farsi and more
- The option to ask for a different caregiver at any time
Source: Government of Quebec, support resources and services for caregivers.
Getting Started
How respite care starts.
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Step 1
A first call
Tell us about your loved one, your schedule and the break you need. We take the time to listen.
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Step 2
A personalized care plan
Your Care Manager assesses your loved one’s needs, and a Registered Nurse writes the care plan.
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Step 3
The first shift
Our team takes over at the planned time. The plan can change whenever your needs do.
Learn more about our care management process.
or call 514-935-2600, day and night
Where we provide care
Respite care in Westmount, Montreal, the West Island, the South Shore and Laval.
Questions Caregivers Ask
Respite care, answered.
If your question isn’t here, a Care Manager will answer it on the phone.
See all FAQs →How much does respite care cost?
It depends on the number of hours and the type of care you need, whether a caregiver (PAB) or a nurse. There is no long-term contract, so you only pay for the care you actually use. Your Care Manager will give you a precise estimate after your first call.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Each shift lasts at least 4 hours. There is no weekly minimum and no long-term contract, so respite can be occasional or regular.
Can I get respite at night, on weekends or during my vacation?
Yes. Shifts are available day and night, on weekends and statutory holidays, and while you are on vacation. If your loved one needs someone every night, see our overnight care.
Who will care for my loved one?
It depends on your loved one’s real needs: a caregiver (PAB) or a nurse. As far as possible, we limit the number of different caregivers.
Do you provide respite in a seniors’ residence or at the hospital?
Yes. Respite is available wherever your loved one lives or is staying: at home, in a private seniors’ residence or at the hospital.
Are respite expenses eligible for a tax credit?
In some cases. Quebec residents aged 70 or older may qualify for Revenu Québec’s tax credit for home-support services for seniors, which covers part of eligible home-support expenses. Keep your receipts, and read our guide to the top tax credits for senior care.
Ready to take a break? A Care Manager will listen, and help you plan respite that fits your schedule.
Give yourself a break