Spotlight on A&O's Senior Centre Without Walls (SCWW)
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 52 minutes ago
Senior Centre Without Walls (SCWW) is offered by A&O: Support Services for Older Adults, a Manitoban non-profit organization. SCWW provides free educational and recreational resources for adults 55+ living anywhere in Manitoba. The "Without Walls" model of the SCWW program removes the barriers of transportation and mobility for older adults across Manitoba by delivering interactive social programming over the telephone. SCWW programs include presentation series, health and wellness programs, literature club, travelogues, bingo, brain teasers, gratitude group, and more!
Visit the A&O website here to learn more: https://www.aosupportservices.ca/
In this Student Blog Series, students from Brandon University's Aging & Mental Health course (Instructor: N. Newall) conducted and wrote the interviews. Permission was given by the students and the interviewee to post the interview.
Students Jenna Matiowsky and Ryleigh Penner, Brandon University, asked Manitoba Lead for SCWW, Julie Nybakken, about the SCWW program.
[This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]
"It's the best thing I have been involved with. It makes me less lonely... I felt like I had company all the time - I wasn't lonely after all." - SCWW participant
"I love Senior Centre Without Walls. I look forward to it every day. It has helped me a lot in many ways in my life. This is what I wake up for every day." - SCWW participant
Student Interviewers: What is your role in the program?
SCWW Lead: I am the Manitoba Lead for SCWW. My role involves coordinating, facilitating, and promoting programming. This includes planning engaging and accessible content, hosting and facilitating telephone sessions, partnering with organizations for guest presentations, developing additional programs, and building relationships with the participants.
Student Interviewers: How did the SCWW Program begin?
SCWW Lead: Senior Centre Without Walls (SCWW) was created in response to a very real challenge surrounding social isolation among older adults - especially those who are homebound, living with mobility limitations, or residing in rural and remote communities. The program launched in Winnipeg in 2009 and expanded across Manitoba the following year. Inspired by a similar initiative in the United States, SCWW was designed to remove the barriers that traditional senior centers can unintentionally create. In-person programs require physical attendance, which means many older adults can be left out.
The "Without Walls" model was developed to remove transportation, mobility, and geographic barriers by delivering interactive social programming over the telephone.
In Manitoba, the program expanded
significantly during and after COVID-19, when isolation increased dramatically, and in-person services were suspended. What started as an accessibility solution became a long-term, sustainable way to reach older adults who might otherwise remain disconnected.
Student Interviewers: What are the most important outcomes of the program?
SCWW Lead: The most important outcomes are social connection, improved mental
well-being, and increased sense of belonging. Participants consistently report reduced feelings of loneliness, increased daily structure and routine, a renewed sense of purpose, and lastly, greater cognitive engagement through games, discussions, and educational sessions. For many participants, this is not just "something to do." It becomes a lifeline - a consistent social touchpoint that keeps them engaged with the world. From a broader systems perspective, social connection supports aging in place. When people feel connected, they are more likely to maintain independence and overall well-being.
Student Interviewers: Where does the SCWW Program get their funding?
SCWW Lead: The Senior Centre Without Walls program is funded by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-term Care as part of the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative.
Student Interviewers: Can you share a success story resulting from SCWW?
SCWW Lead: It is difficult to point to just one success story, but we do obtain feedback from participants and I have included some quotes and stories from participants which I am happy to share. For example, one participant who was experiencing significant isolation shared that participation in the program helped her rebuild her courage to leave her home, begin volunteering, and reconnect with her broader community. So what began as a telephone call became a pathway back into meaningful engagement. Beyond individual transformation, we have seen countless friendships form. Participants describe feeling less lonely, more mentally stimulated, and genuinely connected to others.
One participant reflected on the intellectual engagement the program provides:
"These presentations provide such a variety of the interesting world around us! This helps to keep my brain active and stimulated." - participant of SCWW
The impact extends beyond social connection. After attending a presentation on the Canadian Dental Care Plan, one participant immediately submitted an application - something she might otherwise have delayed for months.
"Without having this information, I probably would have waited until my next dental appointment later this fall... As soon as the presentation was completed, I submitted my online application." - participant of SCWW
Other feedback we have heard about SCWW:
"It's the best thing I have been involved with. It makes me less lonely... I felt like I had
company all the time - I wasn't so lonely after all." - SCWW participant
"I love Senior Centre Without Walls. I look forward to it every day. It has helped me a long in many ways in my life. This is what I wake up for every day." - SCWW participant
Participants consistently speak to the emotional support they receive:
"You have been kind to me. You listen and listen to me... It's the most wonderful thing I have ever had. It makes my day." - SCWW participant
These stories illustrate that Senior Centre Without Walls is more than a telephone program. It is a consistent source of connection, learning, dignity, and belonging for older adults who might otherwise experience isolation.
Student Interviewers: How can someone participate in the program?
SCWW Lead: Participation is intentionally simple:
Individuals must be 55+ and live in Manitoba.
They receive a schedule of programs.
They register by phone or email.
At program time, they answer the phone when we call! No internet, computer, or special technology is required. The goal is accessibility!
Student Interviewers: How would you improve the SCWW Program?
SCWW Lead: What I would love to see in the future for the SCWW is:
Expanding outreach to rural and northern communities
Increasing language accessibility
Building stronger referral pathways with healthcare providers and community agencies
Adding more intergenerational programming
The need is greater than the awareness. In other words, many older adults who could benefit from SCWW simply don't know that the program exists.
Student Interviewers: What do you feel is the biggest hurdle for people getting access to the program?
SCWW Lead: The biggest hurdle isn't technology. It's awareness and confidence. Many older adults:
Do not know that the program exists
Are hesitant to call into a group where they don't know anyone
Worry they won't "fit in"
Feel anxious about participating
People often won't identify themselves as isolated [because] there is also a stigma around loneliness. So, the real work is not just offering programming, it is about helping people feel safe enough to try it once. And once they do [try the program], most come back.
For questions or more information, contact:
A&O: Support Services for Older Adults
Telephone: 204-956-6440
Toll-free: 1-888-333-3121
Website: https://www.aosupportservices.ca/our-three-pillars/social-engagement/senior-centre-without-walls/
Download the most recent SCWW program (Summer 2026) here:
Photos: From Unsplash and Undraw via Wix
Interview by: Jenna Matiowsky and Ryleigh Penner
Edited by: Karyna Villafana
