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Seniors’ Centre
Without Walls
THE GOOD COMPANIONS SENIORS’ CENTRE, CENTRE DE SERVICE GUIGUES, AND BARRY’S BAY & AREA SENIOR CITIZENS HOME SUPPORT SERVICES:
PROUD PARTNERS IN CONNECTING SENIORS.
“Isolation and loneliness in seniors
is becoming an epidemic in
Canada.”-CBC Radio
Acknowledgment
The Ontario Seniors Grant
Presentation Overview
What is Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW)
Why Build a SCWW
How we Started
Who Participates
How it Works
Evolution To Date
Benefits of the Program
Expansion
Toolkit
Practice Call
What is SCWW?
Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW) is a community outreach
program to support vulnerable and isolated seniors and adults
with physical disabilities who may find it difficult to leave home
for extended periods of time due to financial constraints,
transportation difficulties, and/or health and mobility issues.
Through the use of conference calls, SCWW provides the
opportunity for participants to obtain pertinent health-related
information through direct access and conversations with
professionals from their community, later-life-learning
opportunities, participation in brain-stimulating activities, and
most importantly, to feel part of a community and opportunity
to create new and meaningful friendships.
What is SCWW?
First virtual active living centre in Ontario
A free interactive telephone-based activity program that connects seniors 55+ and adults with physical disabilities who find it difficult to leave their home
A seniors’ centre from the comfort of home
A rich line-up of health-related information from professionals in the community, later-life-learning opportunities, participation in brain-stimulating activities
A community-creating, isolation busting program for seniors
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/program-connects-lonely-seniors-through-conference-calls-1.3335260
Why Build a Seniors’ Centre Without
Walls (SCWW)?
Break down the barriers that prevent seniors from accessing traditional services
Address gaps in services
Bridge the time taken with long waitlists for other community support programs
Address High needs/complex clients
Establish consistency with delivery and delivery providers (the volunteer time factor)
Reach and help a significant number of seniors easily and effectively
How We Started
Researched innovative programs to reach more isolated
seniors
Found SCWW running successfully across North America
(New York, California and Winnipeg)
Received a grant for a 3-year pilot project grant from
Ontario Trillium Foundation
Started our first calendar in April 2015
Worked in collaboration with community partners
Who Participates?Isolated seniors and adults with physical disabilities who may not be able to leave home for extended periods of time and are at risk of becoming, or who already are socially isolated.
Seniors:
On wait lists
Suffering anxiety of socialization, real or perceived fears or are reluctant to ask for help
With transportation difficulties: geographical location, access to transportation
Facing financial constraints: low-income (53% of participants living with annual income less than $15,000)
Challenged with health/mobility Issues:
79 % of clients self-identify as having a disability
23 % of clients self-identify as living with a mental health issue
Are isolated and lonely:
68 % live alone
How Does It Work?
How to Register?
Self-referral, in-house referrals, referrals through other
agencies
Complete an intake over phone or through home-visit
Receive calendar of upcoming sessions/activities
Register for any of the sessions/activities
Every 3 ½ months a new Calendar of Programs will be
mailed/emailed out and will register for next calendar term
sessions.
Program Calendar and Schedule 2 sessions a day Monday-Friday
Includes Christmas and New Years Day
Every program has a specific day and time
Health and Wellness presentations
Educational lectures and Human Library Series
Travelogues
Monthly
Musical Entertainment
Fun & Games
Weekly/Bi-Weekly
Day of the Call… Participants receive reminder call starting 30
minutes before the presentation starts to see if they are participating that day
Calls last between 30-60 minutes
Clients can call into the conference call independently or can be called in by facilitator
Participants are able to speak to each other, ask questions and participate at their own comfort level
Max number on the phone is approx. 15 (depending on the topic)
At the end of call, participants just need to hang up the phone
April 2015
Total Attendance:
9
Sessions Given: 8
January 2018
Total Attendance:
311
Sessions Given: 37
Evolution of SCWW To-Date
April 1st 2015 –
September 31st, 2018
Total # of Sessions Total # of Session
Participants
Year #1 262 1016
Year #2 412 2347
Year # 3 425 3311
Year # 4 183 1746
*6 mos
Totals: 1,282 8,420
Total Number of Sessions and Session
Participants to-date
Proven Benefits
Enhances existing seniors’ programs…another tool in service provider toolbox to best help clients
Keeps clients connected to community by bridging wait list gaps
Reduces the number of 911 calls
Reduces ER visits by 50%
Supports caregivers
Benefits of the Program
Outcomes from our 2016-2017 End of Year
Survey:
I would recommend this program to others 100%
I feel like I have something to look forward to as a
result of the program
97%
I found that my quality of life has improved because
of the program
85%
I found an improvement in an active lifestyle 88%
Does SCWW program provide you with something you
are not getting elsewhere
94%
Benefits of the Program
Inclusion, Importance, Community, Friendship and Love
Actively involved with the planning of programming
Connecting with peers
People who care about them
https://www.facebook.com/CBCOttawa/videos/10155164653748212/
“It has altered my attitude because I am more positive now. You don't
realize these things until asked. There is no doubt that they have been a
part of my life and also given me some level of confidence that I would
otherwise not have. I know they are there if I need them” –Ken, 86
“It gives me something to look forward to. I really like interacting with
the other people on the line. Now that I am part of this program I no
longer feel as lonely.” –Brenda
SCWW is Expanding
April 2018 – Ontario Seniors Grant $100,000 to expand the
program to the Ottawa and area francophone community
and the Barry’s Bay Rural Southwest County and area.
2018 goal - to enroll over 200 new participants in the
program
This grant also covers the creation of the SCWW Toolkit to
be distributed to agencies across the province to pilot
SCWW in their areas
Mon centre à distance
MCDCentre de services Guigues
Mon centre à distance (MCD) a débuté ces activités
en 2016. Aucun fond spécial n’était alloué au
programme
En 2017, le programme offre deux programmes par
semaine et ajoute des conférenciers invités
À partir de janvier 2018, les bénévoles de la
communauté représentent près de la moitié des
conférences
Historique
Subvention du SCWW
Une personne dédiée au programme et à la
promotion est engagée 3 jours par semaine
La promotion de MCD est faite dans des centre de
services comme le Centre de services Guigues, aux
dîners communautaires des communautés rurales et
dans des logements communautaires ou on
retrouvent des aînés francophones
Succès et défis de la promotion
Les aînés s’intéressent au programme lorsqu’ils
leur est présenté en personne ou de un à un
puisqu’il est alors possible de répondre à leurs
questions.
Les feuillets et affiches laissés dans les présentoirs
ne sont pas efficaces pour rejoindre les aînés et
personnes avec des incapacités physiques
Il est difficile de rejoindre les gens qui ne
participent pas aux événements communautaires
Objectifs pour le futur
Faire connaître le programme dans les hôpitaux et
les résidences et encourager les centres de services
francophones à parler de nous
Offrir une programmation bilingue pour rejoindre
plus de participants
Augmenter la diversité et le nombre de
conférences
Barry’s Bay and Area Senior Citizens
Home Support
Rural Renfrew County and Area
Largest County in Ontario which encompasses 17
municipalities and has an area of 7,645.68 sq. kms
Stretches from the outskirts of Ottawa to the northern tip
of Algonquin Park's wilderness
Population of 88,512
Set objectives and goals
Use existing network and relationships to create partnerships and opportunities to demonstrate the program
Reach out to local medias
“Handhold” to make solid connections
Offer in house presentations and live sessions
Create marketing tools E.g.: Rack Cards, Presentation Folders
Rural Implementation Strategies
Our Struggles and Successes
Struggles
Building trust
Being open to a new program
Breaking the feeling of commitment
Successes
Partners involvement
Interest in local calendar
Program ideas and presentations by professionals
Lessons Learned
Presentations and live demonstrations are the best way to get some
interest and registrations
The help of partners to create a bridge between the program and
clients
Many follow-ups required to keep clients’ participation
Being open to suggestions and adapt program to rural interest and
needs
Results to Date
5 in-house presentations and 2 live sessions
Total of 10 SCWW local partners
Over 20 advertising kits delivered to homes, hospitals and centres (including SCWW article, rack card, poster, registration forms and program guide)
Reached out to 4 Townships to advertise the program in their newsletter, local radio station and newspaper as well as social media
Over 50 program guides given to clients and partners during presentations
32 participating clients with an average of 8 per month
First (2 month) local calendar out with over 15 programs and more to come for January and February
SCWW Tool Kit
1. Introduction to Mercuri Conference System
2. How to Create a Program Guide
3. How to find and work with Presenters
4. New Program Guide Term Checklist
5. SCWW Intake Process
6. How to Run a SCWW Program
7. Promotional Material
8. Communication Strategies
9. Evaluation of Toolkit
Moving Forward – What We will Do
Provide you with Toolkit
Provide you with Guidance
Set up regular check-in times where we can review
material and answer questions that you may have
We will create Mercuri Accounts for everyone
Provide you with completed Toolkit at the end of the
project
Moving Forward – What We will Do
Review and Test out materials
Start small calendar
Create promotional material which must acknowledge The Good
Companions and the Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility
Maintain confidentiality
Must participate in at least one of the schedule check-in times per
month
Evaluate the toolkit and provide feedback
Try to secure funding to continue the program in your area
Practice Call
For More Information
Ottawa Area
The Good Companions
Rachel Sutcliffe, Seniors’ Centre Without Walls Coordinator
613-236-0428 ext. 2323
www.thegoodcompanions.ca
Barry’s Bay Area
Noemi Gatien
Barry’s Bay & Area Support and Home Services
613-756-2772 ext. 3
www.bbahs.org
Centre de service Guigues
Annie Garant
Mon Centre à Distance
Annie Garant
613-241-1266 ext. 459
www.centresg.ca
“The most terrible poverty is
loneliness, and the feeling of being
unloved”-Mother Teresa
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR HELP
