Respite | ActiveLivesCanada

Respite Ready When
Needed

At Active Lives Canada Respite, we understand that asking for help can feel heavy. Families often arrive at our door tired, worried, or overwhelmed, sometimes after a long stretch of holding everything together on their own. Whether life has taken an unexpected turn or you simply need space to breathe, our respite program exists to offer calm, care, and reassurance in moments when it matters most. Here, children and adults with disabilities or complex support needs are welcomed into a real home, not a system, where routines are respected, dignity comes first, and compassion guides every interaction.

We believe respite is not about stepping away from love or responsibility. It is about protecting it. By creating a safe, supportive environment for your loved one, we give families permission to rest, regroup, and regain strength without guilt or fear. You do not have to explain yourself or justify why you are reaching out. If you are here, it is enough. We are ready to listen, ready to help, and ready to walk alongside you, one steady step at a time.

Our respite program is trusted by families, caregivers, and professionals because it is built on consistency, experience, and genuine human care. Every stay is approached with thoughtfulness, whether it is planned or unexpected, short-term or overnight. We take the time to understand each person’s needs, preferences, and routines so care feels familiar and reassuring from the moment they arrive. This attention to detail allows individuals to settle in and feel safe, and it allows families to step away knowing their loved one is truly supported.

For many families, reaching out to Active Lives Canada Respite becomes a turning point, not because everything is suddenly easy, but because they are no longer carrying it alone.

At Active Lives Canada Respite, families and professionals come to us during moments that are often quiet, complex, and deeply personal. We support doctors and medical teams who have children and young adults with disabilities or complex support needs who rely on life-saving medication and suddenly have nowhere safe for them to stay. Family law judges trust our respite house when making difficult decisions during separation or divorce and need to know that a child or adult with diverse abilities will be cared for with stability, dignity, and compassion. We are also a resource for law enforcement when they encounter someone in crisis who requires a calm, supportive place to stay, as well as for group homes and community organizations during transitions when continuity of care matters most.

Families also reach out to us after long periods of carrying everything on their own. Parents and caregivers who have been strong for a very long time come not because they have failed, but because they understand that rest is part of caring well. Sometimes they need support while attending an important appointment or commitment, and sometimes they are simply seeking a brief opportunity to pause, breathe, and regain strength. Our respite house offers reassurance in those moments, providing a safe, familiar environment where loved ones are supported with patience, respect, and understanding.

At Active Lives Canada Respite, we recognize how deeply personal it is to trust someone else with the care of a loved one, even for a short time. We do not take that responsibility lightly. Our respite house is built on consistency, compassion, and genuine human connection, where routines are honoured, individual needs are respected, and dignity is always protected. When families and professionals choose Active Lives Canada Respite, they are choosing a place where people are not just looked after, but truly cared for.

Support When Families & Systems Need Somewhere to Turn

Welcome To Our Home

Located in Orangeville, Ontario, our Active Lives Canada Respite House is a warm, welcoming home nestled in the heart of the community. Housed in a beautifully restored Victorian residence, the space blends the comfort and character of an old home with thoughtful updates designed to support individuals with disabilities and complex support needs. Every detail has been carefully considered, from accessible layouts and calm, familiar living spaces to safety features that allow participants to feel secure while maintaining a true sense of home rather than an institutional setting.

Our respite house is intentionally small, welcoming up to three individuals at a time, so care remains personal, attentive, and unhurried. This limited capacity allows our team to truly get to know each person, honour routines, manage medication and daily supports with care, and respond to individual needs with patience and respect. By keeping the environment calm and predictable, families and referring professionals can trust that their loved ones are supported in a space that values dignity, comfort, and meaningful human connection.

Who Are Our Staff?

Behind every stay at Active Lives Canada Respite is a team that families and professionals can truly rely on. Our program is guided by an experienced Respite Coordinator who has spent many years working in residential settings and understands the responsibility that comes with caring for people during vulnerable moments. This experience shapes everything we do, from how the house is run day to day to how we respond when situations feel complex or emotionally charged. Families and referring organizations often tell us they feel reassured the moment they speak with our team, because they can sense the calm, competence, and care that guide every decision.

Our frontline staff include trained Personal Support Workers and Child and Youth Workers who bring both professional skill and genuine warmth into the home. They are not rushed, detached, or task focused. They are present, attentive, and invested in the well-being of the individuals they support. Staff are trained to manage personal care, medication routines, and daily supports, but just as importantly, they understand how to build trust, recognize subtle cues, and create a sense of safety that allows people to settle in and feel at ease. This is the kind of care that families hope for but rarely find easily.

What truly sets our team apart is the way we personalize every stay. We take the time to learn routines, preferences, communication styles, and comfort needs before someone arrives, so care feels familiar from the start. We work closely with families, caregivers, and professionals to ensure continuity and consistency, reducing stress for everyone involved. This thoughtful, person-centred approach allows individuals to feel understood and respected, and it gives families and organizations peace of mind knowing their loved one is in capable, compassionate hands.