Five Things to Know About Manitoba’s Seniors Strategy

The newly created Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care developed a Strategy to make Manitoba a Great Place to Age. Their process of co-development involved collaboration with a diversity of stakeholders including seniors, families, caregivers, front-line service providers, senior serving organizations, clinical services, and various government departments. The Department has committed to ongoing collaboration and partnership in the implementation of the strategy, which will include a partnership and advisory structure that supports integration and communication, as well as a performance framework.

MNPHA was pleased to participate in this co-design, which to date has been an integrated, engaging, and effective strategy development initiative. Here are five things for the Community Housing sector to know about the strategy:

1. The goal of the strategy is for Manitobans to live vibrant and independent lives that allow each to age in our home or communities for as long as we wish and for as long as it is safe to do so. The vision for Manitoba’s seniors strategy is older Manitobans are valued and empowered to live healthy and productive lives in our communities, making Manitoba an ideal place to age.

2. Strengthening home care, in every setting, is foundational.

3. The concept of a village shapes the vision for communities in the future. These villages can be physical or virtual, and include a range of supports and services that can support Manitobans as we age on a continuum.

4. There are not clear or commonly understood definitions of the various types of housing seniors are accessing. The strategy aims to explore how capacity can be increased and how to define the role and types of housing settings with services (including independent living, assisted living, and supportive housing), leveraging village and multi-generational housing models that include co-locating other services and supports, while taking into consideration affordability and safety.

5. In addition to defining the roles and types of housing, the strategy will also involve developing quality standards, guidelines, and governance for seniors services delivered by public, not-for-profit and private providers, with an initial focus on seniors housing, home care and personal care homes.