When does the need for “care” begin?

Your care needs will change over time and eventually you may need the type of extensive, 24-hour care and support provided in a nursing or personal care home. Where you live, what you pay and what type of programs and services will be available to you will depend on the province in which you live and the personal choices you make.

Nursing homes or personal care homes, as they are called in Manitoba, provide higher, more complex levels of care, usually to seniors who have serious health care needs and require 24-hour nursing care and supervision.

Long-term care is managed at the provincial and community level.

In Manitoba, the Regional Health Authority (RHA) manages admissions to long-term care – except in Winnipeg, where there is a separate long-term care access centre within the RHA.

Here are the steps in the process:

1. A doctor will complete an application form and submit an assessment to the RHA for you.
2. The RHA will bring together a panel or a number of professionals to assess your needs. The RHA will decide on the best options for you.
3. The RHA will also assist you in choosing a home.
4. Contact your RHA (Provide Link – 5 different RHAs - rham.mb.ca)

You’re not just choosing a home, you’re choosing the right home

When looking for the right home, it is important to consider your unique needs, preferences and desires. You or your loved one’s physical functioning, mental capacity, personal interests, financial circumstances and social supports all affect what setting and services are most appropriate. Begin by researching what homes are available in your community. A good place to start is Extendicare’s Home Locator.

Helpful links:

• Alberta Health Services – Long-Term Care
• Alberta Health Services Zones
• Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors - Housing Options for Older Manitobans
• Manitoba - Regional Health Authorities
• Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care – Finding Long-Term Care
• Ontario – Home and Community Care Support Services
• Saskatchewan - Ministry of Health – About Continuing Care
• Saskatchewan - Regional Health Authorities

Once you have your list of homes, you need to organize your priorities. Ask yourself what really matters to you and your loved one(s): Is it the location, size or reputation of the facility? What is the atmosphere and culture of the home? Its ability to meet current and future health care needs, special programs offered? Is there urgency for placement?

Start online, but ensure you talk with family, friends, government agencies and health care professionals. Armed with all the information you’ve gathered, you will then need to narrow down the list and visit your top candidates.

We’ve provided a list of questions to take with you on your visits. They’ll help organize and focus your tour and gather consistent information on each home. Then later, you can compare the alternatives and make the best decision possible.