Selkirk and other rural communities in the Interlake-Eastern region will see paramedics take on a new role starting in June 2026. They will help residents aged 65 and over find social connections through local senior centres, programs, and services. The goal is to reduce loneliness and keep seniors out of hospital when they do not need emergency care.
The effort comes from Shared Health Emergency Response Services and is backed in part by Healthcare Excellence Canada. It is part of a national push to use paramedics for social prescribing, which links people with non-medical supports that improve health. Paramedics are often the first healthcare contact for seniors, giving them a chance to spot those who could benefit from community ties.
The program follows a February 2026 announcement by the Province of Manitoba that social prescribing coordinators are now available in all five regional health authorities. Referrals to these coordinators jumped about 44 percent in the past year, showing growing demand. The province notes that more than one in 10 Canadians often feel lonely, and nearly one in five older adults experience loneliness, according to Statistics Canada.
In Selkirk, the local health centre finished a major expansion in 2024. The emergency department was renovated and completed in March 2024, and a new inpatient unit with 30 beds opened on September 1, 2024. That added capacity gives the area a stronger base for care as paramedics begin connecting seniors with services close to home.
The program puts paramedics on the front line of well-being, not just emergencies. By helping seniors find a ride to a community lunch or a weekly social group, they aim to improve quality of life and reduce avoidable 911 calls.
