Family Respite Options

Family Respite Options

We understand the importance of having time to relax and “recharge our batteries.”  Our Family Respite Options aim to facilitate opportunities for your family to enjoy worry-free relaxation, knowing that their loved one is also enjoying a supported respite experience.  This service gives caregivers time away from their regular responsibilities, a chance to re-energize and an opportunity to pursue their own interests.

We can provide your family with both in-home respite support, as well as out-of-home respite support services geared specifically for children, youth and adults.

Out of Home Family Respite

We can coordinate overnight or short-term stays of up to 3 weeks. You can also use these visits as an opportunity to learn some life-skills if your goal is to live independently in the future. It’s also a great way to make new friends!

Weekend Respite

We can accommodate you in a beautiful home setting for the weekend that you that you can use as a launching-pad to participate in community events and leisure activities.

In-Home Respite

In-Home Respite is popular for many reasons. A professional caregiver comes to your home and gets to know you in your home environment. The caregiver learns your family’s routine and you’re not inconvenienced by transportation and unfamiliar environments.  Depending on the service agreement, the caregiver may take you out of your home for activities.  These hours are prescheduled to meet your family’s / caregiver’s needs. The hours can be from as little as 3 hours per week to up to daily supports. Funding for payment for In-Home Respite services can be from several different sources: SSAH, ACSD, Passport or Private Pay. Link to ‘Passports and Individualized Funding’ page.

Summer Youth Adventures (SYA)

Our SYA Camp offers an 8 week summer day program to those aged 4 – 18 with a developmental and/or physical disability.  SYA Camp includes activities that allow campers to explore what our own community has to offer with an emphasis on integration and inclusiveness, popular theme days and special guests, along with exciting day trips out of town and one or two overnight adventures each year.  SYA Camp provides a high staff to participant ratio which allows campers the support needed to access a wide range of activities that they may not otherwise have opportunities to experience.

Out of Home Family Respite

We can coordinate overnight or short-term stays of up to 3 weeks. You can also use these visits as an opportunity to learn some life-skills if your goal is to live independently in the future. It’s also a great way to make new friends!

Weekend Retreats

You can attend camps or stay in a hotel for the weekend and enjoy activities such as murder mysteries and theatrical shows.

Sensational Saturdays

We focus on fun and socialization for adults.  ‘Sensational Saturday’ groups operate out of one of our many community ‘hubs.’

In-Home Respite

In-Home Relief is popular for many reasons. A professional caregiver comes to your home and gets to know you in your home environment. The caregiver learns your family’s routine and you’re not inconvenienced by transportation and unfamiliar environments.

Alhambra Days

Alhambra Days are held at the Alhambra Hall in Grand Bend on Klondyke Road.  Alhambra activity days are typically offered the first Saturday of the month unless there is a long weekend and then it is offered the following Saturday.  Your day starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Alhambra Days are filled with learning menu planning, grocery shopping, meal preparation and activities such as crafts, outings and community-based activities.

Community Living Sarnia-Lambton sponsors the Ontario wide CHAP Care-Giver and Family Database which provides an opportunity for individual support workers and families to connect.  We can help you manage the hiring process.  We maintain Direct Support Professional profiles. These profiles can help you to choose the right care-giver.

Respiteservices.com coordinates a network of agencies and organizations in Ontario, providing respite services to individuals with various disabilities, and their families. A respite access facilitator is available to help families identify their needs and locate the appropriate respite options.

Respiteservices.com’s objectives and main functions are:

  • to develop and maintain a consistent process for your family to access respite care
  • to facilitate creative respite options that meet each of your child’s individual needs
  • to maximize efficient and effective use of respite resources
  • to provide ease of access of information about respite services to families and to increase their options for respite care
  • to identify gaps in service and help with community service planning

The CHAP (Community Helpers for Active Participation) Program is an integral part of Respiteservices.com and helps connect individuals with disabilities and CHAP workers. This is done through a Worker Database where the CHAP Program recruits workers interested in supporting persons with intellectual disabilities, including autism and/or a physical disability, to provide meaningful respite opportunities in the home or in the community. Families can access workers after joining the Family Registry.

If you have or are seeking Passport, Special Services at Home (SSAH), Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) other funds to purchase or arrange for services, we can help. How you proceed is your choice.  For more information, please contact us.  (link to contact form to email).

Community Living Sarnia-Lambton’s employment model has been shared and adopted by other communities across Ontario and even internationally.

Vision: A community where everyone is valued and can participate.

Volunteers are the bridge between the community and the services that we provide

Community Living Sarnia-Lambton has grown to support more than 400 children and adults with developmental and intellectual challenges.