Families are matched with respite care providers that can meet their needs or receive information to enable them to select a suitable respite provider.

Respite care providers:

1. are familiar with the care recipient’s daily routine, preferred foods and activities, and needed therapeutic or medical care; 
2. respect the culture, race, ethnicity, language, religion, and sexual orientation of the care recipient; and
3. offer activities with content appropriate to the interests, age, development, physical abilities, interpersonal characteristics, and special needs of the care recipient.

Crisis respite care provides needed developmentally and age appropriate interventions to help the care recipient cope with trauma or stress associated with the crisis.

The program provides close supervision of care recipients to ensure safety and service quality, and provider-care recipient ratios do not exceed:

1. one to four when children are under school age;
2. one to eight during waking hours; and
3. one to twelve during sleeping hours.

When care recipients experience accidents, health problems, or changes in appearance or behaviour, information is promptly recorded and reported to caregivers and administration, and follow-up occurs, as needed.

Respite care providers return care recipients only to the caregiver, or another person approved by the caregiver.

Procedures indicate how to respond by using appropriate organizational or community resources when a caregiver poses a safety risk or an individual requires protection.