About this service
Short-term, scheduled relief so family caregivers can rest, attend appointments, or recharge—while their loved one remains safe and supported at home (or briefly in a designated respite bed coordinated through Home Care). In Alberta, respite is a recognized part of continuing care: the provincial continuing-care system describes it as short-term relief for caregivers, offered in-home or overnight in a continuing care centre arranged through a Home Care Case Manager. For eligible clients using Client-Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI), authorized in-home respite hours can be direct-billed to Alberta Blue Cross by registered providers (Type 3); families may add private top-ups for additional hours. We deliver respite with consistent routines, concise updates, and Routine Practices for infection prevention at every visit.
Respite care in Calgary & nearby communities
Alberta Maple Care provides in-home respite across Calgary and the surrounding area — including Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Banff, Canmore and Strathmore. Our nursing-led team gives family caregivers a dependable break, from a few hours a week to multi-day rotations, while your loved one stays in familiar surroundings. Where public respite applies, care is coordinated through the Assisted Living Alberta Calgary Zone and delivered by caregivers matched to your family’s routine, language and culture.
Where you qualify, respite hours are funded through CDHCI and direct-billed to Alberta Blue Cross, and many Calgary families add private hours for extra flexibility. Respite pairs naturally with our 24/7 & live-in care and hospital-to-home recovery support when needs change.
Who it’s for
- Family caregivers who need predictable breaks—from a few hours weekly to multi-day rotations—without disrupting the client’s familiar home environment. the provincial program defines respite explicitly as scheduled relief for caregivers.
- Clients who may also use facility-based overnight respite (booked via Home Care) while we provide day-to-day in-home respite before/after those stays.
- Caregivers of seniors, adults with chronic illness or disability, and pediatric/transition-age clients (families with children may also have supports through programs like FSCD, separate from CDHCI).
What’s included
In-home supervision & companionship
Safe presence, conversation, orientation cues, gentle engagement activities and calm reassurance. (Respite’s goal is caregiver relief while maintaining client safety and routine.)
Personal-care blocks
Bathing, dressing, toileting/continence care, mobility/transfers, and bedtime/morning routines as needed during the respite window.
Meals & hydration
Simple meal/snack prep, fluids within reach, and post-task tidying tied to health/safety; observe appetite and escalate concerns.
Medication assistance (reminders)
Time-based cueing and blister-pack prompts; missed-dose escalation to nursing or the family contact.
Safety checks & light housekeeping (health-linked)
Quick wipe-downs of high-touch areas used during care, pathway clearing, and door/stove checks.
Concise handover notes
Plain-language summary of what we did, what we observed, and anything to watch for.
Frequently asked questions
Is in-home respite covered through CDHCI?
Yes—when an Assisted Living Alberta case manager authorizes respite under your care plan, those hours can be delivered by a registered CDHCI (Type 3) provider and direct-billed to Alberta Blue Cross. Families often add private hours to extend coverage beyond the authorization.
How do we access overnight respite beds?
Contact your zone’s Home & Community Care/Continuing Care Access line; a Case Manager reviews eligibility and books short-term facility-based respite (availability varies by site and zone).
What if we don’t have an Assisted Living Alberta assessment yet?
Call the Continuing Care Access number for your zone to request assessment (published by Assisted Living Alberta for North, Edmonton, Central, Calgary, and South). You can also book private respite with us immediately while you explore public options.
Are there other funding supports for caregivers?
Some families may access complementary benefits outside CDHCI—for example, Special Needs Assistance for Seniors offers limited funding for facility-based respite under set criteria (separate application). Program rules vary and can change; we’ll point you to the latest provincial pages.
How do you protect health information during respite?
We document only what’s needed for safe care and share updates with consent, following Alberta’s privacy requirements and AHS IPC guidance relevant to community care.
Do you offer respite care in Calgary and nearby communities?
Yes. We provide in-home respite throughout Calgary — all four quadrants — and in Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Banff, Canmore and Strathmore. Scheduling is built around your family’s routine, whether you need a few hours a week or multi-day coverage.
Is CDHCI respite care available to Calgary families?
Yes. When an Assisted Living Alberta Calgary Zone Case Manager authorizes respite in your care plan, we deliver those hours as a registered CDHCI (Type 3) provider and bill Alberta Blue Cross directly — no reimbursement paperwork for you. See how CDHCI funding works.