A Guide to Retirement Care & Senior Living in Manitoba

Being the 5th most populated province in the country, Manitoba is often noted to have a diverse ethnic community within their population as well as a steadily increasing older adult population. You’ll find several different landscapes within the province, from the arctic tundra to prairie farmlands - depending on where you decide to explore or settle down. In terms of retirement living in the province, the active seniors in the community are said to enjoy a great range of leisurely activities such as sporting events, cultural events, art exhibitions, and various outdoor activities. To explore your options for different retirement communities and housing in Manitoba, you can access our search portal at caredupon.ca. 

As a retiree in Manitoba, you’ll find no shortage of outdoor experiences to partake in and meet like-minded seniors while doing so. Some of the more popular and accessible outdoor activities for Manitoban seniors to immerse themselves in include fishing, wildlife viewing, golfing, camping, and the northern lights viewing. With over 200 local museums, you can also find a variety of exhibitions to visit and learn more about the rich history of Manitoba’s art and cultural scene. 

While Manitoba is a province that sees all four seasons, you can expect a moderately dry climate with more intense changes in temperatures throughout the year. As the capital city is often referred to as “Winterpeg”, you’ll find that the winters can get quite cold and long, while the summers are hot but short.  

While the average winter temperature in Winnipeg ranges anywhere from 0 to –10°C (32-14°F), certain regions can see extreme temperatures as low as -35°C (-31°F). During the summertime, you can expect the temperature to range anywhere from 14-26°C (57-79°F), with the extreme highs sitting at 38°C (100°F).  

From assisted living to independent living communities, you can find a number of different retirement housing options in Manitoba to fit your care needs and lifestyle habits, When making the decision to move into a retirement community, it’s important to consider not only the type of care you’ll need to receive, but also the proximity of your new home to surrounding places such as shopping centres, restaurants, health care institutions, and outdoor trails and parks.  

Depending on the city you decide to settle down in and the lifestyle you’d like to have, you’ll find that the cost of retiring in Manitoba will vary. In terms of housing, while the average cost of assisted living in Manitoba typically begins at $2300, that cost will vary depending on the level of care you require and the community you settle down in. To search for a care home provider in Manitoba that fits your budget and needs, you can visit the search portal on caredupon.ca.  

With one of the most stable economies in Canada and considerably low costs of living in comparison to other Canadian provinces, you may find that even living in the capital city costs significantly less than living in smaller cities around the country. However, for seniors seeking support for finance and budgeting during retirement, there are government programs that offer benefits to those needing additional assistance.  

55 Plus Program:  The 55 plus program is an income supplement program that offers Manitoba seniors aged 55 and up with quarterly benefits sent out in April, July, October, and January. To be eligible, applicants must submit their tax returns from the previous year for approval. 

In the case that you don't meet the eligibility criteria for receiving Government funding, you have several options for post-retirement income sources.  

Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) and Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs): Using a Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) or a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSAs), your post-retirement income is dependent on the amount you put into these accounts when you first began saving and the interest you received.   

Investment accounts: More common forms of post-income sources involve using taxable investment accounts. These can include investments from accounts such as stocks and bonds.  

Employer-sponsored pension plans: Through an employer-sponsored pension plan, you and your employer can contribute money over the course of your employment. When you decide to retire, you can access the income directly saved from the plan.   

To learn more about your options for post-retirement income sources, visit our resource centre. 

For seniors to receive coverage on healthcare services, Manitoban residents must register for the Manitoba Health and Seniors Care program. This program provides older adults with coverage on medical services such as physician visits, surgery and anesthesia, x-ray and lab services, and certain optometrists and dentist visits. For those requiring home care services, there are also insured benefits that provide seniors with benefits on accommodation, nursing care, physiotherapy, meals, and even laundry services. 

Pharmacare: The Pharmacare program seeks to provide Manitobans coverage on prescription medication by basing their coverage on their annual income. To be eligible for Pharmacare coverage residents must be eligible for both Manitoba Health and Seniors Care coverage, and not have their prescriptions already covered by other federal or provincial programs. To learn more about Pharmacare and your eligibility, visit Manitoba’s official website. 

 For further information, you can visit and/or contact these sources: 

Health and Seniors Care: Visit for more information on senior health care coverage and benefits. 

Guide to Home Care Services in Manitoba: A resource centre for all things home-care related in the province.