Respite Care in Toronto: The Best-Rated Agencies, Short Stays and What It Costs
The top-rated agencies offering respite care at home in Toronto, ranked by our SCP Confidence Score and Google reviews, plus funded short-stay respite in long-term care, adult day programs and what a break costs.
By Jonathan Kennedy · Last reviewed October 2026
Key takeaways
- Our top pick is Arcadia Home Care, with an SCP Confidence Score of 67 out of 100 and a 4.9 rating from 47 Google reviews.
- Most reviewed: Selectacare, with 56 Google reviews.
- 10 agencies made the list, with 233 Google reviews between them, each with at least 5.
- Ranked by our Confidence Score, then by Google rating weighted by how many reviews stand behind it.
On this page (5 sections)
Respite care in Toronto comes in three forms: a private agency caregiver at home for a few hours, a night or a few weeks (about $28 to $40 an hour for personal support in 2026), an adult day program, or a funded short stay in a long-term care home of up to 60 days at a time and 90 days a year, at $45.31 a day (Ontario, from July 1, 2026). Short stays are arranged through Ontario Health atHome at 310-2222.
Maybe you haven't slept a full night in weeks, or there's a wedding, a surgery or a work trip you can't move. You love your parent, and you're also running on empty. Taking a break isn't giving up on them: it's how families keep going for the long haul.
Do this next:
- Decide what kind of break you need: a few hours a week, a night, or one or two weeks away.
- For more than a week, call Ontario Health atHome about a short-stay bed early, as beds book up.
- For hours at home, compare the agencies below and book a first visit while you're still there.
How we ranked Toronto's respite care agencies
This list includes Toronto agencies whose published services include respite care, with at least five Google reviews. We order them by the SCP Confidence Score, then by a Google rating weighted by how many reviews stand behind it. Placement isn't for sale.
The best-rated respite care agencies in Toronto
Every agency below offers respite care at home in Toronto and is ranked by our independent SCP Confidence Score and a volume-weighted Google rating. Tap any listing for its full profile and reviews.
#1 Arcadia Home Care
67 / 1004.9(47 Google reviews) TorontoOur top pickVerifiedBest for: Families managing dementia or Alzheimer's
Since 2005
View profile and reviews#2 Senior Helpers Toronto
67 / 1004.5(16 Google reviews) TorontoVerified2 offices in Toronto
View profile and reviews#3 primepath community care
73 / 1005.0(8 Google reviews) TorontoBest for: Seniors needing help at home
View profile and reviews#4 Selectacare
67 / 1005.0(56 Google reviews) TorontoMost reviewedPerfect 5.0Best for: Seniors seeking to age in place
Since 1979
View profile and reviews#5 Qualicare Home Care Scarborough
66 / 1005.0(30 Google reviews) TorontoPerfect 5.0Best for: Seniors wishing to stay at home
2 offices in Toronto
View profile and reviews#6 VCare 247 Senior & Personal Elder Care
66 / 1005.0(23 Google reviews) TorontoPerfect 5.0Best for: Seniors needing daily help
View profile and reviews#7 Just Like Family Home Care Midtown East Toronto
66 / 1005.0(20 Google reviews) TorontoPerfect 5.0Best for: Seniors aging in place
6 offices in Toronto
View profile and reviews#8 Dilamphis Care Inc
66 / 1005.0(15 Google reviews) TorontoBest for: Seniors who want to stay at home
View profile and reviews#9 Solara Health Partners
66 / 1005.0(10 Google reviews) TorontoBest for: Seniors who want to stay in their own home
View profile and reviews#10 ComForCare Home Care Toronto-Central, (ON)
66 / 1005.0(8 Google reviews) Toronto2 offices in Toronto
View profile and reviews
The agencies side by side
| # | Agency | Google rating | Confidence Score | Starting price | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arcadia Home Care | 4.9 (47) | 67/100 | Ask for a quote | English |
| 2 | Senior Helpers Toronto | 4.5 (16) | 67/100 | Ask for a quote | Not listed |
| 3 | primepath community care | 5.0 (8) | 73/100 | Ask for a quote | Not listed |
| 4 | Selectacare | 5.0 (56) | 67/100 | Ask for a quote | English |
| 5 | Qualicare Home Care Scarborough | 5.0 (30) | 66/100 | Ask for a quote | Not listed |
| 6 | VCare 247 Senior & Personal Elder Care | 5.0 (23) | 66/100 | Ask for a quote | Not listed |
| 7 | Just Like Family Home Care Midtown East Toronto | 5.0 (20) | 66/100 | Ask for a quote | Not listed |
| 8 | Dilamphis Care Inc | 5.0 (15) | 66/100 | Ask for a quote | Not listed |
| 9 | Solara Health Partners | 5.0 (10) | 66/100 | Ask for a quote | Not listed |
| 10 | ComForCare Home Care Toronto-Central, (ON) | 5.0 (8) | 66/100 | Ask for a quote | English |
How this ranking works: agenciesare ordered by our independent SCP Confidence Score, shown on each listing, then by a volume-weighted Google rating (so a large number of strong reviews outweighs a handful of perfect ones). Every agency here offers respite care in Toronto and has at least 5 reviews. An agency with more than one office here is listed once, at its best-ranked office. As operators claim and verify their listings, their Confidence Score rises, so we review these rankings quarterly.
Browse all home care in TorontoRun one of the agencies on this list? Verifying your listing keeps the details families see accurate and lifts your SCP Confidence Score, which sets the order of these rankings. It is free, and unclaimed agencies still appear here. Claim or verify your listing or see how it works for operators.
Which kind of respite fits your family?
| Option | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Agency caregiver at home | Regular afternoons off, nights, a parent who's settled at home | About $28 to $40 an hour |
| Adult day program | A weekday break, plus company and activities for your parent | Often subsidized; ask the program |
| Short stay in long-term care | A week or more away, or after a hospital stay | $45.31 a day, up to 60 days at a time |
| Short stay in a retirement home | A comfortable break in a private suite, or a trial before a move | Priced by the day; ask each residence |
Our take: For a parent with dementia, in-home respite with the same one or two caregivers usually beats a short stay somewhere new. Start small, a few hours a week, so your parent knows the caregiver before you need a longer break.
What should you ask a Toronto respite agency?
How soon they can start, the shortest visit they'll book, and whether the same caregiver will come each time. Ask how they handle a week of 24-hour cover while you travel, and what it costs per day rather than per hour. If your parent speaks a language other than English, ask; Toronto agencies often match caregivers by language.
How does short-stay respite in long-term care work?
An Ontario Health atHome care coordinator assesses your parent, and their doctor or nurse practitioner completes a form. You can then choose up to five long-term care homes for the stay. Stays can last up to 60 days at a time and 90 days a year, and the bed is booked ahead, first come, first served. Most rooms are basic shared accommodation.
Can respite be part of a longer plan?
Yes. Many Toronto families use regular respite for months before deciding on a move, and a short stay in a retirement home is a gentle way to try one. Our caregiver support guide covers burnout and the other help available, and the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit returns part of eligible care costs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does respite care cost in Toronto?
Private in-home respite costs about $28 to $40 an hour for personal support in 2026. A short stay in a long-term care home, arranged through Ontario Health atHome, costs $45.31 a day from July 1, 2026. Retirement homes price short stays by the day.
How long can a respite stay in long-term care last in Ontario?
Up to 60 days at a time and up to 90 days in a year, according to Ontario Health atHome. Beds are limited and booked in advance.
How do I arrange respite care in Toronto?
For a short stay in long-term care, call Ontario Health atHome at 310-2222 for an assessment. For care at home, contact a private agency directly; many can start within a few days.
Is there free respite care in Toronto?
Some is funded. Ontario Health atHome may fund some in-home support after an assessment, adult day programs are often subsidized, and hospice volunteer programs offer free company for people with a serious illness. Long-term care short stays have a daily co-payment.
How did you rank Toronto's respite care agencies?
We include Toronto agencies that list respite care among their services and have at least five Google reviews, then order them by our SCP Confidence Score and a review-weighted Google rating. Placement isn't for sale.
Last reviewed October 2026. We keep our guides current as costs, programs, and options change.
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