When to send us your respite request.

Since May 1^st, we're accepting all requests for the month of August 2026, regardless of the date of your respite.

Example: Whether your respite is on August 1^st, 15^th or 25^th, you must send us your request by May 1^stas we have limited places available.

NOTE: Any requests submitted before the 1st of the month will not be processed unless the 1st falls on a weekend or a holiday.

Availability:

May : fully booked, future requests will be put on the waiting list
June : fully booked, future requests will be put on the waiting list
July :fully booked, future requests will be put on the waiting list
August : some spots available

^{Last updated on 05-05-2026}

Processing time: please allow up to 8 weeks on average.

Due to a high volume of requests, particularly during the summer, and to ensure greater fairness, Baluchon wishes to inform you of its procedure for processing requests, which includes the following elements:

Integration of long-awaited requests;
Priority treatment for people at the end of life;
Distribution among Quebec regions;
Ability to match the family with the right respite worker;
Matching a respite worker whose respite has been cancelled by the family and whose dates match or who has indicated, “flexible dates;
If there is still room, treatment according to when the request arrives in the current month.
Please respect the calendar above to give families a chance to request a specific month.

Since expanding our services, we have doubled our respite care offerings, but despite this, demand continues to grow at an even faster pace. On average, we have a 30% waitlist, and this number increases significantly during the summer months. As a result, it is impossible for us to accommodate all requests from July through October, inclusive.

Unfortunately, we also have a 30% cancellation rate by families, which means that other families are deprived of their chance to get respite and some of our employees are left without work. Families indicating “flexible dates” and willing to accept shorter notice could get access to respite sooner. The best way for network staff to ensure good access to our services is to explain our services to the family (e.g., leaving the home) and to ensure a serious commitment on the family’s part before they make the request.

Our team is extremely dedicated and aware of the physical and mental fatigue of caregivers. Just like you, we do everything we can, and sometimes more, to offer quality respite. Thank you for your kindness towards our employees.