Respite for Family Caregivers - An Environmental Scan of Publicly-funded Programs in Canada

Prepared by Janet Dunbrack
For Health Canada
February 2003

Table of Contents

• Summary
• Context
  • Acknowledgements
  • Methodology
  • Scope
  • Definitions
• Main Findings
  • User profile
  • Cost to user
  • In-home respite
  • Facility-based respite
  • Day Programs
  • Palliative Care
  • Rural and Remote Areas
  • Adults with Disabilities
  • Children
  • Mental Health
• Federally-funded respite programs
  • First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada
  • Veterans Affairs Canada
• Conclusion
  • Federal/Provincial/Territorial Respite Services
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Prince Edward Island
  • New Brunswick
  • Quebec
  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Yukon
  • North West Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Health Canada: First Nations And Inuit Health Branch (Home and Community Care Program)
  • Veterans Affairs Canada

Summary

Home care is an increasingly important component of the health care system in Canada. As family caregivers play a growing role in providing care, their need for respite, or time off, is also growing. The purpose of respite is to give the caregiver a break in order to avoid burnout or crisis, to enable the caregiver to take care of necessary activities outside the home, and to support a healthy relationship between the person receiving care and the caregiver. Respite can also provide a break for the person receiving care.

This report is an environmental scan of respite for family caregivers provided by publiclyfunded programs in Canada at the federal, provincial and territorial level. Several types of respite programs are examined (in-home, facility-based, day programs, and so on) from the perspective of the user profile, eligibility criteria, cost to user, level of demand and special features, if any.

Demand is high for in-home respite because of early discharge from hospitals and the need or desire to care for a family member at home. Shortages of public funds for home care services and of home care workers were cited as the main reasons for the high demand relative to service availability. Demand for facility-based respite is somewhat lower (medium to high) and demand for day programs is high.

A high proportion of those requiring respite are the elderly spouses of elderly patients, many of whom are living on low incomes. The middle-aged children of the elderly constitute another sizeable group of family caregivers. Their challenges involve managing caregiving while fulfilling responsibilities to younger family members and to a job. Family caregivers of young children face many challenges; most public programs provide supplementary funding to help offset their costs. In all cases, respite hours during palliative care are not subject to time and cost ceilings, and are restricted only by the availability of resources.

Disparities of access to respite exist, based on income, geography or health condition of the patient. Mental health and services for those in rural and remote areas present gaps to be addressed. Implementation of the 2003 First Ministers' Accord will lead to the designation of minimum (core) home care services the will be fully paid by public health plans. If respite is designated as a core service, this may begin to fill existing gaps. A remaining challenge will be to develop enough home care workers to meet the demand for respite.

The public officials interviewed had a strong commitment to providing the best possible services for their citizens.

The report briefly summarizes the main findings from the environmental scan and provides detailed information on programs in a series of tables.

Context

Home care is an increasingly important component of the health care system in Canada. The 2003 First Ministers' Accord on Health Care Renewal provides for substantial investment in home care. Minimum home care services must be defined by the provinces and territories by September 2003. First Ministers agreed to provide first dollar coverage (i.e. totally funded by the provincial/territorial health plan) for the minimum (core) services for short-term acute home care, including acute community mental health and end-of-life care. Respite is currently a component of all public home care programs, which raises the expectation that it may be defined as a core service with first dollar coverage in all jurisdictions. The Accord also has as one of its statements of purpose that Canadians are able to access quality care no matter where they live. The 2003 Budget designated $1 billion for a new federal compassionate leave program to begin in 2004 which will provide employment insurance benefits to people who take time off work to care for gravely ill family members. Family members will therefore become increasingly involved in providing care at home.

As family caregivers play a growing role in providing care, their need for respite, or time off from caregiving, is also growing. Respite provides time off from caregiving in order to relieve caregiver stress and burnout and to allow caregivers to attend to other areas of their lives. The consequences of not providing respite can include caregiver burnout, crisis, neglect and abuse. Federal, provincial and territorial governments acknowledge the need for respite. All publicly-funded home care programs in Canada have some provision for respite for family caregivers and some jurisdictions are currently reviewing respite provisions with a view to possibly enhancing them. The 2002 study by the Canadian Association for Community Care, Give Me A Break!, examined policy questions associated with respite for family caregivers. The study recommended the creation of a national caregiving strategy based on best practices, research, public education and an integrated policy framework.

In order to place these policy questions in the context of actual practice in Canada, Health Canada commissioned this environmental scan of publicly funded respite programs. The information in this report is intended to be a resource for federal, provincial and territorial officials and others dealing with respite issues. Programs described in detail in this report are those governed by policies at the federal, provincial or territorial level. Practice may vary somewhat at the sub-provincial or sub-territorial level depending on the model of service delivery determined by regional health authorities as they apply provincial or territorial policy to local situations.

Acknowledgements

Sincere thanks are extended to all the federal, provincial and territorial officials who provided information on their respite provisions and who took the time to verify and supplement the information in the tables at the end of this report. In all cases, officials were knowledgeable and helpful and showed a high degree of care and dedication to the clients they serve. Many were former health care providers who had first-hand knowledge of the situations faced by families and who were dedicated to doing the very best they could for their clients within the funding and staff restrictions on home care programs. Thanks also go to the staff of the Home and Continuing Care Unit at Health Canada for their inspiration and help during the course of this study.

Methodology

The information in this report was gathered through interviews with federal, provincial and territorial officials working in departments of health and community or social services. Information from Quebec was not available at the provincial level and information was obtained from two well-regarded programs, one in Montreal and the other in the Estrie region centered around Sherbrooke. Websites of the relevant government departments were also consulted, as was documentation provided by some officials. Information in the appended tables was verified by government officials in the program described.

Scope

This environmental scan examines the following types of publicly-funded respite: inhome services; facility-based respite; day programs; programs for rural and remote areas; palliative care; adults with disabilities; children; and mental health. The report also includes user profiles, eligibility criteria for programs; cost to the user; level of demand for the respite service relative to service availability; and a description of special features, if any. The final section of the report consists of tables detailing the respite programs of each jurisdiction. All provinces (with the exception of Quebec at the provincial level) and territories, Health Canada (First Nations and Inuit Health Branch) and Veterans Affairs Canada participated in the study.

This study covers only respite services that are included in publicly-funded programs, with some mention of voluntary sector programs that may receive some government funding. In many jurisdictions, families whose income is above a defined threshold may hire private services to provide respite because they wish to hire privately or because they are not eligible for assistance under the provincially-funded program.

Definitions

For the purpose of this report, respite is defined as a break, time out or relief for the caregiver. In most cases, this is provided through a home care worker coming to the home to allow the family member time off, or through placing the patient in a respite bed in a long-term care facility for a short-term stay (usually 30 days or less). A family caregiver is defined a person who considers themselves to be a primary caregiver and who is providing care because of a prior relationship with the client.^{Footnote 1} They may be members of a biological family or a "family of choice" (friends, partners, neighbours).

Most provinces and territories define respite and family caregiver in a way that is substantially the same as these definitions. Some provinces, such as Nova Scotia, stress that respite for caregivers of children includes the element of facilitating a positive and rewarding experience for the child and strengthening families by reducing stress. This philosophy is shared by other jurisdictions. Prince Edward Island suggested that respite also provides a break for the care recipient. Alberta is the only jurisdiction that restricts the definition of family caregiver to relatives (including those related through marriage or common law), trustees or guardians.

Respite is provided through a variety of means, including: the in-home presence of a homemaker which allows the family caregiver time away or time off; facility-based respite which is usually provided by a residential care facility (or more rarely, by a hospital) for a defined period; and day programs for the person receiving care. In some cases, such as the program provided by the CLSC ^{Footnote 2} René-Cassin in Montreal, respite programs are considered to include support groups for family caregivers, telephone support, information sessions, counselling, and other services. Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta also include the possibility that a paid homemaker could provide respite by helping the caregiver with such things as shopping. Informal arrangements such as this probably occur in many jurisdictions.

All jurisdictions agreed that respite does not apply to paid caregivers and some stated that respite is not intended to free the caregiver to take paid employment.

Most family caregivers are elderly spouses, middle-aged children of the elderly, parents of children and youth who are severely ill, disabled or developmentally delayed.

Main Findings

User profile

For all forms of respite other than child or mental health care, caregivers needing respite are mostly elderly spouses and middle-aged children or siblings and other relatives of the elderly. Caregivers of adults with disabilities or persons living with mental health conditions may be young to middle-aged parents or spouses. Caregivers of young children are usually young parents. In many jurisdictions, more than 90% of home care recipients are over the age of 65 (Montreal, Ontario, veterans) and their caregivers tend to be elderly spouses. In northern Canada, a higher proportion of clients receiving home care are under age 65 (roughly 40% in Yukon) and living with developmental delays, early onset Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis, mental health conditions and disabilities.

Cost to user

Policies vary across Canada with respect to the cost of respite. In some jurisdictions, there is no direct cost to the user for in-home respite (Ontario, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch programs, Veterans Affairs Canada programs). In others, income or income plus assets are assessed in determining eligibility for services (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia) and the proportion of costs to be shared by the family. A high proportion of clients receiving public services in some jurisdictions (e.g. 95% in Nova Scotia) do not pay fees because of their low incomes. Saskatchewan and Alberta have a monthly cap on the amount paid by the client ($61 - $360/month in Saskatchewan and $300/month in Alberta) after which the public system covers costs (to a maximum of $3000/month for all home care in Alberta). In most cases, those with incomes above the defined threshold must pay a portion of costs ranging up to 100%. Those with sufficiently high incomes in some jurisdictions must hire their own services independently of the public system (e.g. Newfoundland and Labrador) although the public system may help families find qualified personnel (Nova Scotia, Ontario). In northern Canada, there are no private agencies and all residents with health care coverage receive services under the public plan at no direct cost.

Policies with respect to direct costs for respite for family caregivers of the disabled or children follow the same pattern, with supplementary allowances often paid by the provincial/territorial government to offset the cost of care, supplies and drugs.

All jurisdictions except Nunavut require the client to pay a portion of the cost of facilitybased respite, usually in a long-term care facility. The amount may vary according to income, with most rates in the range of $800 - $900/month (roughly equivalent to the Old Age Security Guaranteed Income Supplement [OASGIS]). This may cause financial difficulty if the client's normal accommodation at home is also paid from their OASGIS income.

Caregivers of those receiving palliative care are allowed extended respite hours under public plans, with the amount being limited only by the availability of resources. In these cases, cost ceilings may be exceeded, with the extra cost being covered by the public system if clients qualify for financial assistance in jurisdictions with means tests.

Day programs usually charge a small fee to cover the cost of a meal and transportation, ranging from $5/day to $30/day across Canada, with most costing less than $10/day.

Respite programs funded by Veterans Affairs Canada normally do not charge fees to users, with the exception of respite beds in a long-term care facility where the client may be required to contribute to the cost of accommodation and meals.

Only programs funded by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada have any specific provision for supplementary funds for remote or isolated communities, although no respite programs charge a direct cost to the user. In all other jurisdictions, residents of rural and remote areas are covered by the same policies with respect to cost as other provincial/territorial residents.

This study reveals that direct-cost-to-user policies vary widely across Canada, particularly with respect to in-home respite. Although some provinces have low income thresholds (e.g. Newfoundland and Labrador has an income threshold of $5000 in liquid assets for an individual or $10,000 for a couple above which clients must purchase services), in fact most clients may be receiving services at no direct cost because most have low incomes (e.g. 95% of home care clients in Nova Scotia do not pay for services). In many jurisdictions, therefore, publicly-funded plans are serving mainly those with the lowest incomes while those with modest or abundant means are hiring their own services on the private market independently or with the assistance of provincial agencies that act as brokers to bring together clients and accredited paid care providers. Many seniors or others on limited incomes have stated that the amounts they are required to pay for in-home respite or a respite bed in a facility present an insurmountable financial barrier ^{Footnote 3} and they must do without respite. Disparities in access to respite based on income both within jurisdictions and between jurisdictions are subjects for ongoing study and discussions on equality of access to services in Canada.

In-home respite

In-home respite is provided for family caregivers by a home support worker coming to the home for a number of hours to give the caregiver time off. During this time off, the caregiver may remain in the home or leave. No jurisdiction restricts the activity that the caregiver may undertake during this respite time, although some explicitly state that inhome respite is not intended to allow the caregiver to undertake paid work (e.g. Yukon).

In all cases, the need for respite is assessed by a case manager as part of the overall care assessment for the patient and family. The usual respite period taken is a block of 2-4 hours once or twice a week. Some jurisdictions have a monthly maximum number of respite hours (e.g. 40 hours - Nova Scotia) or a monthly financial ceiling on total home care expenditures, including respite (approximately $3000 - Newfoundland and Labrador; Alberta) except for palliative care which allows for these limits to be exceeded. In all cases, availability of respite depends on the availability of home care workers. Demand for in-home respite is rated as high by most jurisdictions. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is currently accepting new clients for home support on an emergency basis only because of limited resources. Reasons cited for high demand are early discharge from hospital with high caregiving requirements at home, limited budgets and the shortage of home care workers to provide care or respite.

Financial eligibility for services, or the portion of cost borne by the family, is assessed in some jurisdictions (Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Quebec; Saskatchewan; Alberta; British Columbia) and not in others (Ontario; Yukon; Northwest Territories; Nunavut; First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada). In assessing financial capability, income is always considered and in most cases, assets. The exceptions are Prince Edward Island and British Columbia, which consider only income and not assets. The determination of need by a case manager includes consideration of such things as the family's financial and psychosocial capacity. In all cases, those with the means to hire respite services directly can do so. In regions such as the Northwest Territories, however, there are no private agencies and all services are provided by the territorial government.

Some jurisdictions provide home support workers for respite. In others, the client may hire a worker directly (Newfoundland and Labrador; New Brunswick) or hire from a number of workers suggested by the provincial program, wherein the provincial program acts as a broker to bring qualified workers and families into contact (Nova Scotia; Ontario). In all jurisdictions except British Columbia, an immediate family member cannot be hired. British Columbia will allow payment to family members not residing with the client, excepting a parent, child or spouse. Under exceptional circumstances (rural and remote location, cultural or language barriers, and behavioural problems) spouses, parents and children may receive payment if no other qualified caregiver can be found. The number of available home care workers is limited by public funding to hire them and a shortage of workers. Problems cited by some jurisdictions include the difficulty of finding home care workers who will work for a documented salary rather than cash.

Facility-based respite

All jurisdictions provide for facility-based respite, with the usual period being 30 days, although shorter periods such as weekends or 14-day periods are possible. Some jurisdictions have a maximum annual number of days ranging from 28 if on public assistance (Nova Scotia) to 60 days (most jurisdictions) with extensions possible in special circumstances. Some provinces note that if facility-based respite extends beyond 60 days/year, the patient probably needs to be in a long-term care facility (e.g. Saskatchewan). In some cases, respite beds may be available in hospitals, but this appears to be uncommon. Hospital respite beds may be used in regions where there are few long-term care facilities (e.g. rural Manitoba).

The share of costs paid by the family for a facility-based respite bed varies widely from $8/day (Montreal) to $147/day (Nova Scotia - can be offset by financial assistance) with most costs in the range of $30/day or $800/month (this represents roughly 25% of the cost in many cases with the balance being paid by the province or territory). In most cases, the family usually pays the lowest amount charged by the facility which is often roughly equivalent to the Old Age Security Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors.

The level of demand for facility-based respite ranges from high (Montreal; Manitoba; Saskatchewan; British Columbia; Nunavut) to medium (Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Ontario; Northwest Territories) to low (Northwest Territories). In southeastern Quebec (Estrie region), 36% - 80% (depending on the sub-region) of temporary stays in longterm care facilities are for respite. Demand for facility-based respite may be lower than for in-home respite because of the patient's or family's fear that entering a long-term care facility will result in a permanent stay in the facility (anecdotal reports from those interviewed).

First Nations and Inuit communities make little use of off-reserve facility-based respite beds because the patient's health often declines when they are removed from their community and cultural context. Some of the large Ontario reserves do have long-term care facilities which can offer respite beds, but this is uncommon.

Day Programs

Day programs are offered in most jurisdictions with a mix of public and voluntary sector services. Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick , Montreal, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut all have day programs in publicly-funded facilities. In most cases, voluntary sector programs (Alzheimer's Society; seniors' and children's programs; programs for the disabled) receive at least a small amount of public funding (except in Nova Scotia). Some day programs are used by family members who want to continue working. Very few First Nations communities have day programs.

Day programs usually charge a small fee to cover the cost of a meal and transportation (less than $10). Fees can often be waived if the user's income is low, or paid according to a sliding scale based on income. Day programs can be used from 1-5 days a week, but demand is high in most jurisdictions with frequent wait lists. High demand limits the number of days per week that an individual client may use the program. Montreal, British Columbia and Northwest Territories rated demand as medium. Lack of flexible hours has been cited as a barrier to respite by family caregivers. ^{Footnote 4} Only one day program surveyed (CLSC René-Cassin, Montreal) explicitly stated that it offered flexible hours, although some day programs in other regions are operated on a drop- in basis and some Alberta day programs operate in the evening. Other day programs, largely offered by voluntary sector organizations, may also offer flexible hours, but an in-depth survey of day programs offered by these organizations was beyond the scope of this report.

Palliative Care

In all cases, the provincial or territorial home care plan allows for extended respite hours during palliative care, with the only limit being availability of resources.

Rural and Remote Areas

In all jurisdictions, family caregivers living in rural or remote areas are covered by the same respite programs available to those in urban areas. The only special provision for isolated communities is that of the Home and Community Care Program funded by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada: additional funds can be allocated to isolated communities. Most jurisdictions cited the difficulty of recruiting enough home care workers in rural and remote areas because of the smaller labour pool in these areas and the long distances that must be travelled (sometimes by plane). Facility-based respite care for those in rural and remote areas is often available only in the nearest large centre, which may require the patient to be far from home and may possibly entail a high cost in time and money for the family caregiver who wishes to visit the patient.

Adults with Disabilities

Many jurisdictions provide respite for caregivers of adults with disabilities under the provincial/territorial home care program. In other jurisdictions (e.g. Ontario) home care for the disabled is often provided through the programs of community service divisions of provincial ministries, rather than by health care services.

In some cases, the total monthly home care allowance including respite for those living with disabilities, is higher than that allowed for regular home care (Newfoundland and Labrador). Policies are variable with respect to income as a component of needs assessment. Day care programs for the disabled are often provided at no cost to the user, given their low incomes.

Children

Children are defined as being under age 18 or 19 by the provinces and territories. Many jurisdictions differentiate between children with illness and those living with disabilities in terms of which programs or ministries are responsible for supporting the children and their families. Many jurisdictions have supplementary funds for child home care in addition to home care budgets to provide additional care, family support, drugs and supplies. Jurisdictions that estimated the level of demand for respite services for caregivers of children rated demand as high, citing a scarcity of care workers, particularly for disabled children. Early discharge from hospital and consequent high home needs was cited as another reason for high demand. Demand for facility-based respite was rated as only medium because of the desire by families to keep children at home if possible.

Facility-based respite for family caregivers of children tends to be in a foster home or government-provided apartment (e.g. Nova Scotia). Length of stay in a facility is shorter than for adult patients, with stays as short as one night or a weekend being possible. Ontario, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut provide respite as part of care at no cost to the family. Other jurisdictions offset costs with an allowance to the family which is proportional to income or ask families to contribute directly to costs on a sliding scale geared to income.

Canuck Place in Vancouver, Canada's only residential palliative care hospice for children, offers 20 days a year per client in a respite bed. Canuck Place, however, is largely supported by charitable donations and receives only minimal government funding.

Mental Health

Many jurisdictions do not have designated respite services for family caregivers of those living with mental health conditions. The Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada (the Romanow Commission) identified mental health care as a significant gap that needs to be filled. The 2003 First Ministers' Accord on Health Care Renewal named acute community mental health care as an important component of core home care services.

The situation in terms of home care for those living with mental health conditions is somewhat different from that of physical illness or disability. In many cases, families are not caring for a family member living with a mental health condition because the person is living in supportive housing or may be homeless, or because relations have been severed with the family. In other cases, mental health conditions may be invisible but still require significant family caregiving. A spouse living with depression may create a burden on the other spouse to provide care and support as well as dealing with child care and the other demands of running a household. Since more women than men are diagnosed with depression, the men who are their spouses may constitute an invisible group of family caregivers who are not obtaining respite. Fear of social stigma may deter families living with these conditions from seeking help. In many cases, there may be no respite available under the public health plan. Lack of a break from the situation may have a damaging effect on family dynamics, particularly as they affect children.

Some provinces offer day programs that focus on activity, treatment or therapy rather than respite (e.g. Prince Edward Island), and respite is an indirect result of such programs when the person lives with their family. In some cases, mental health clients are eligible for the same home care services as those living with physical illness, based on assessed need. In other cases, mental health clients are only eligible for general home care programs if they also have a physical disability or illness (e.g. Newfoundland and Labrador). Yukon provides mental health respite beds in Whitehorse, and Nunavut has a transitional facility in Iqaluit with limited respite opportunities. In most cases, demand is rated as high relative to available services. Respite for family caregivers of those living with mental health conditions appears to be a gap that needs addressing.

Federally-funded respite programs

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada

The new Home and Community Care Program announced in the 1999 Budget is currently being developed across Canada. Each First Nations and Inuit community will define its services under the program, with some elements being designated as essential and others as supportive service elements (secondary services). In-home respite is defined as an essential service element under the program. The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) of Health Canada is responsible for working with communities to develop their services. Once a community service plan has been approved and is implemented, the community will manage the program and FNIHB will play an advisory, monitoring and funding role for the program.

Facility-based respite, day programs and palliative care are designated as supportive service elements rather than essential elements. FNIHB does not currently have a mandate to provide these services. An estimated 50% of communities may offer in-home respite care, depending on local needs and conditions. Very few communities offer facility-based respite or day programs. Unless long-term care facilities are located in the community or in an Aboriginal cultural context, they are unlikely to be used for respite. Experience shows that Aboriginal clients suffer health decline in facilities that are far from home and not culturally appropriate. An ongoing challenge in providing care and respite is the need to train health care workers.

In the North in particular, there is a strong degree of integration of provincial/territorial health care services and Health Canada (FNIHB) and Department of Indian and Northern Affairs health care services because of the large First Nations and Inuit populations.

Veterans Affairs Canada

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is a significant provider of respite services for family caregivers of veterans and those with disability pensions. The purpose of VAC respite services is to avert caregiver burnout or crisis before it occurs. The average age of veterans is currently 79. The principal family caregiver in many cases is an elderly spouse. Based on a needs assessment, VAC will provide time off for the family caregiver and help with household upkeep and maintenance (including outdoor maintenance). The annual maximum entitlement for all respite services is 59 days, which may be extended during palliative care. Some day programs are available, especially in cases of dementia. All services are normally provided without direct cost to the user. VAC services are intended to supplement and complement services available in the community and those provided by provincial/territorial health plans.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of this study, officials in all jurisdictions recognize the crucial need for family caregiver respite and want to provide the best possible services for their citizens. They are often constrained in doing so by limited financial and human resources. In spite of constraints, all jurisdictions have provision for family caregiver respite.

The availability of respite across Canada varies widely depending on provincial/territorial financial resources and the availability of qualified workers. Respite availability also varies within jurisdictions when low-income families may be unable to afford the cost, even though they receive some public assistance. These situations create disparities for family caregivers based on income and resource availability.

There are some reasons for hope of improvement. The First Ministers have stated in their 2003 Accord on Health Care Reform that Canadians should have access to quality care no matter where they live. The availability of in-home respite in particular may need to be addressed to ensure that equality of access can be achieved. The designation of respite as a core home care service and consequent provision of first-dollar coverage would be an important step in this direction, as would increasing the pool of qualified home care workers.

Demand is high for respite, especially for in-home respite and day programs. As the Canadian population ages, demand will continue to grow. In light of the new compassionate leave plan that will come into effect in 2004, there may be an expectation by public officials that family members must leave work to provide a greater share of caregiving. Reducing income barriers and increasing health human resources for respite are crucial if family caregivers are to bear up under the load of providing care. The consequences of not providing respite can include caregiver burnout, crisis, neglect and abuse.

Demand for facility-based respite is somewhat lower than for in-home respite; if fears of permanent placement could be alleviated, respite beds might be more fully used. Day programs are currently provided largely by the voluntary sector with wait lists in many cases. Increased public funding could help to expand capacity and absorb demand for day programs. Provinces and territories could consider whether day programs should be viewed as part of a total approach to home care because of their benefit to both the patient and the family caregiver.

Gaps appear to exist in respite for family caregivers of those living with mental health conditions. Under the 2003 First Ministers' Accord, this area will receive further attention. Canadians living in rural and remote areas also appear to be disadvantaged in many cases relative to those living in urban areas. Their needs require further examination.

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Respite Services

The attached tables provide details of respite services available in all provinces and territories. Service details are also given for the Home and Community Care Program funded by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada and for programs provided by Veterans Affairs Canada. The User Profile in the tables describes the caregiver receiving respite rather than the patient receiving care.

• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• New Brunswick
• Quebec
• Ontario
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Yukon
• North West Territories
• Nunavut
• Health Canada: First Nations And Inuit Health Branch (Home and Community Care Program)
• Veterans Affairs Canada