Housing and Aging in Place Options

Housing Options for Seniors in Manitoba

There are many different types of housing and support options available-whether you are staying in your current home or considering a future move. This section provides information on:

Staying in your own home or aging in place

Most seniors prefer to remain in their own homes or in their community as long as possible or “age in place”. It is important to consider what supports could be brought into your current home to meet your current and future needs before considering a move.

Supports could include home care, emergency alert systems, rent subsidies, meal delivery, home modifications, transportation options, and social or recreational activities.

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Planning for Aging in Place

As a first step, you may wish to review the programs and services available in Manitoba by downloading a copy of the Manitoba Seniors’ Guide 2015/2016. The F/P/T Seniors table has created a series of videos and publications about considerations when planning to age in place https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/seniors/forum.html

Home Safety and Assessments: Making Improvements to Your Current Home

There are tools and programs available to help you to assess your current home and identify what changes could be made to improve the safety in your home and help you age in place.

  • A & O support services for Older Adults has made this video to help you do your own assessment. Home Falls Prevention [requires Flash installation; will not play on iOS devices]
  • The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s IMPACT, Injury Prevention Program has developed a home safety checklist, as well as information and tips on preventing falls in your home. Please see http://preventfalls.ca/ for more information.
  • The American Association of Retired Persons developed the AARP HomeFit Guide that offers solutions that range from simple do-it-yourself fixes to improvements to more involved and require skilled expertise.
    To download the AARP HomeFit Guide click here.
    To download the AARP HomeFit No-Cost | Low-Cost Ideas pamphlet click here.
Housing Modifications and Repair Programs:

Here are some resources of the programs available to help make those changes in your home so you can stay in your home.

Housing Programs:
  • A & O: Support Services for Older Adults offers This Full House Senior Hoarding Program, the Safe Suite Program (elder abuse services), and consultation (by appointment) with a Housing Project Coordinator to assist with selecting appropriate housing. For more information, please contact A & O Support Services by phone: 204-956-6440; email: info@aosupportservices.ca; or website: www.aosupportservices.ca
  • Bed Bug- N Scrub Program: www.gov.mb.ca/bedbugs/program.html
Renting Resources
  • Rent Assist is a shelter benefit for low-income Manitobans who rent their own accommodations in the private market. Rent Assist helps make your rent affordable by paying you a benefit based on your income and the cost of rent in the market for your family size. For more information click here: www.gov.mb.ca/fs/eia/rent_assist.html

If you need grab bars or other home modifications where you are renting, please talk with your landlord. There are programs for landlords through Manitoba Housing (Families).

Did you know your landlord has obligations under the provincial The Human Rights Code to make a reasonable accommodation to a request from a tenant based on a protected characteristic such as having a disability?

Reasonable accommodation often involves a simple change to how something is done that takes into account a special need a person or group has that is based on a protected characteristic. An example is a landlord installing a flashing smoke detector in the apartment of a tenant who is deaf. Please contact the Manitoba Human Rights Commission for more information.

Considering a Move
  • You will need to think about your current and future housing and support needs are. Careful planning may assist you in making a move that is right for you and avoiding a move that does not meet your needs.
  • Before considering a move and signing an agreement, find out as much information on the as you can on the services provided (if any), the housing provider or landlord, and possible rent and service charges and increases. It is also important to be informed, and know who you call should an issue arise and what legislation protects you.
  • The Residential Tenancies Branch administers The Residential Tenancies Act; The Life Leases Act and tenancy related matters under The Condominium Act. Please contact the RTB for more information Phone: 204-945-2476; Toll Free: 1-800-782-8403 Email: rtb@gov.mb.ca; Web: www.gov.mb.ca/rtb
  • The Residential Tenancies Branch provides various information sheets on renting, including information for “First Time Renters” on their website www.gov.mb.ca/cca/rtb/tenant/firsttime.html

Did you know...assisted living residences fall under the Residential Tenancies Act? Please see the article, Buildings that provide tenant services, in the Open Doors publication of the Residential Tenancies Branch Winter 2016 newsletter, Issue 36

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Types of Housing

  • Becoming familiar with the types of housing will help you identify which type would meet your needs and preferences, as well as supports available. For descriptions of the type of housing in Manitoba, please see the Housing Section of the Manitoba Senior’s Guide for more information.
  • The Long Term and Continuing Care Association of Manitoba (LTCAM) offers a Where do I Start navigation section on their website that guides through some options to consider for services, assistance, or care. For more information, please visit www.ltcam.mb.ca
  • Manitoba Housing provides opportunities for subsidized rental housing in both properties that Manitoba Housing owns and operates and in properties that are owned and operated by private and non-profit housing partners. For more information, please visit: www.gov.mb.ca/housing/progs/renters.html.

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Seniors' Housing Directories/Find Housing

The Winnipeg Housing Directory for Older Adults is available through A & O Support Services for Older Adults Inc at:  https://www.aosupportservices.ca/our-three-pillars/counselling-services/housing/

For Seniors Housing information outside of Winnipeg, please contact your local Senior Resource Council listed by Regional Health Authority as below:

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Resources for Developing Housing

Age-Friendly Communities throughout the province are working on various projects so that seniors can stay in their community. Here are some resources for developing seniors housing.

Abbeyfields provides smaller scaled congregate housing for seniors. There are a number of Abbeyfield Societies in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario.These local non-profit societies run the individual houses under the guidance of the Canadian National Abbeyfield Society, but have autonomy in matters of the day to day running of the house. For more information www.abbeyfield.ca/

Did you know, the first Abbeyfield in Manitoba has opened in Emerson-Franklin? Please see the Emerson-Franklin RM website for more information.

  • The Canadian Cohousing Network (CCN) was formed in 1992 in British Columbia, Canada. It is a registered non-profit organization that promotes the creation of cohousing communities as a model for sustainable development by raising public awareness about cohousing and by bringing people together to form communities.

Senior co-housing models have been developing in many provinces in Canada. Please see the Canadian Cohousing Network for more information at http://cohousing.ca/

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