Manitoba's publicly funded continuing care is administered through Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). Winnipeg operates differently from the rest of the province — it has a dedicated Long Term Care Access Centre that manages PCH admissions separately from the general home care programme. Knowing which pathway applies to where your family member lives is the key first step.
Home care services in Manitoba are provided through the RHA for your area. Services include nursing, personal care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, and respite care.
To access home care:
A home care case coordinator will conduct an assessment at home and develop a care plan. The assessment determines what services you receive and at what cost. Professional services such as nursing and therapy are provided without charge. Personal care services carry an income-based daily fee; the provincial government covers the majority of the cost.
Manitoba has a well-developed supportive housing option that many families are not aware of: a secure apartment setting with personal support services (meals, laundry, housekeeping), where personal care itself is funded through the RHA at no cost to the tenant. The tenant pays for accommodation and the service package. This can delay or avoid Personal Care Home placement for people who need 24-hour security and oversight but do not yet require continuous nursing care. Eligibility is assessed through the RHA home care programme.
Long-term care facilities in Manitoba are called Personal Care Homes (PCH) — sometimes also called Nursing Homes. Manitoba has 124 licensed PCHs. They provide 24-hour professional nursing care and supervision for people whose care needs can no longer be met at home or in supportive housing.
Access to a PCH runs through the RHA home care programme — not directly through the facility. A home care case coordinator performs the initial assessment and, if PCH placement is indicated, manages the application. In Winnipeg, the separate Long Term Care Access Centre handles PCH admissions. If you are in hospital, the hospital social worker or equivalent manages the PCH placement process.
PCH fees are set by Manitoba Health and are income-based: the provincial government pays the majority of costs, and the resident pays a daily charge based on income. This is standardised across all licensed PCHs in the province — you pay the same government-regulated rate regardless of which facility you are in.
"All other alternatives — family support, home care, supportive housing — should be explored before a Personal Care Home application. The system is designed as a continuum, not a binary choice."
If a family member is admitted to hospital and cannot return home, speak to the hospital social worker immediately. Hospital-initiated PCH applications are processed through the hospital's own social services team. The earlier in the admission this conversation starts, the more placement options remain open.
Winnipeg home care intake: 204-788-8330
Rural Manitoba: contact your RHA via ltcam.mb.ca
Health Links — Info Santé (24/7): 1-888-315-9257
Last reviewed: May 2026. Government programme details, costs, and contact numbers change. Verify current information directly with the relevant health authority or government body before acting.
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