Caregiver Wellbeing Support Basics

Disclaimer*: This blog post has been updated in accordance with the AutismBC 2025 Communication Guide. Any mentions of “respite” have been changed to “caregiver wellbeing support” as part of our commitment to nurturing safe and inclusive spaces through language. Support for caregivers to take time for themselves— to rest, restore balance, and care for their own well-being. It offers space to reconnect with what nourishes them—whether that’s family, community, culture, or personal healing—so they can continue to care for others in a good way. We use this term instead of “respite,” which can carry a negative implication about disability and disabled people.

Caregiver wellbeing support, formerly known as respite*, refers to services for caregivers of autistic people to improve their wellbeing.

If you are paying out of pocket, you can pay whatever you feel the provider is worth. Please keep in mind that if you overpay or underpay, that reflects on other families. The range is typically $20 to $30 per hour. You may consider paying less if you are paying additional expenses (gas, etc.). If you aren’t paying for a caregiver wellbeing support provider’s fuel and they are driving your child around, you may want to consider paying a higher hourly wage. Other factors that may determine an hourly wage include:

• Experience
• Qualifications
• Are they required to drive your children to and from places?
• Are they required to provide any medical care (tube feeding, etc.) or self-help care (toileting, etc.)?
• Are they working with an agency?  If so, the hourly rate will likely be higher but will include things such as Worker’s Compensation Insurance as well as liability insurance.  

Questions to ask a potential caregiver wellbeing support provider 

Before hiring anyone to help your loved ones, it is good to do your diligence, as in an interview process. Consider asking about:

1. Qualifications.
2. Criminal record check.
3. References.
4. Availability.
5. Wage request.
6. Experience.
7. What will you not do?
8. Do you have any questions?
9. Do you have a current job? If so, what is it?
10. Do you drive? How much liability do you have on your vehicle? Do you have it rated for the correct rate class?
11. Why are you interested in this position?

Caregiver Wellbeing Support Funding Types:

1) Paying Privately

2) MCFD (Ministry of Children & Family Development)

• Waitlists depend on the region and can be anywhere from several months to several years.
• Referral required from a Social Worker at CYSN (Children & Youth with Support Needs)
• MCFD does prioritize based on a family’s circumstances. Therefore, one family may be approved before another family that has been on the waitlist longer.
• Depending on the region families may or may not be responsible for contracting their own caregiver wellbeing support provider (in the Interior families do contract their own provider).
• This service is not listed under Autism Services on the MCFD website, but rather under intellectual disabilities: learn more HERE
• Therefore, families may not be aware that caregiver wellbeing support exists if their social worker didn’t mention it
  • If a family has not been appointed a CYSN Social Worker, they can request one by contacting the local CYSN office or going through the Intake Worker who may have talked to them at the initial diagnosis.
• Sometimes, parents do not see the need for caregiver wellbeing support until their children become a certain age and are more demanding
  • Getting on the wait list for caregiver wellbeing support at the time of diagnosis is strongly encouraged
  • You can always be removed from the list if you do not need it
• Emergency caregiver wellbeing support
  • If a family is undergoing a crisis, sometimes emergency caregiver wellbeing support funding is available for a few months through CYSN
  • This funding would give the families a few hundred dollars per month for caregiver wellbeing support
  • However, the families are still responsible for contracting their caregiver wellbeing support provider

3) At Home Program

• Two funding streams are for Medical Benefits (Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, Physiotherapy) or Caregiver Wellbeing Support
• Contact your CYSN social worker and ask for a referral
• A nurse will come out to your home and assess your child
• When you are answering questions, make sure you answer based on your child’s worst day
• The child must not be independent with 3 out of 4 of the following skills: eating, bathing, dressing and toileting
• Again, families are responsible for contracting their own caregiver wellbeing support providers
• Usually, it is set up the same (guardian/parent gets a cheque each month) unless there are some issues or the MCFD worker
• Note for people living in the areas in and around Prince Rupert/Haida Gwaii, Smithers, Terrace or Kelowna: There is a different application process to access At Home Program Medical Benefits for families living in these areas. If you live in one of these areas, please use the link to the pilot areas At Home Program Medical Benefits application process.
• At Home Program Guide

Learn more: The At Home Program – Eligibility and Application – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

4) CLBC (Community Living BC) Wellness Supports

• “This is standard minimum funding available to individuals and families that can be used flexibly for wellness supports (formerly called respite*) or contracted services. Beginning April 1, 2023, this funding is increasing from $300 per month to $350 per month (or $3,600 per year to $4,200 per year).” (CLBC Update, March 2023) 
• Talk to a CLBC Facilitator about wellness support. Please contact your local CLBC office. Click here to find your local office contact information. 
• The kind and amount of support you receive is based on the need for help in specific areas and the availability of the support. Learn how CLBC makes decisions about funding supports here. 
• Wellness Support funding is $350 for Guide to Support Allocation (GSA) 1-3 and $700 for GSA 4-5 (while waiting for other requested services – when other services are fulfilled, $350 might be rolled into the new service while $350 remains for wellness support).
• Understanding CLBC Assessment Tools: https://www.communitylivingbc.ca/how-do-i-get-support/understand-clbc-assessment-tools/

Other resources:

AFU Families Facebook Group – search #alternativefunding source  

ASD, SPD, Special Needs Therapy and Support Providers in BC Facebook Group 

Care.com – “Find Trusted Locals for Your Every Need.” (Care.com, 2023) 

Respite*, Caregivers & BIs for Individuals with Special Needs in BC 

Support Worker Central – “A Job Board Connecting People with Disabilities and Support Staff.” (Support Worker Central, 2023)