Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC)
The American Association of Retired Persons conducted a national survey in 1995 that highlighted that 86% of older adults want to stay where they are as they grow older (Kunstler, 2001). "When 50% of the residents of a building or neighborhood, which was not originally designed for adults who are sixty years of age or older, that community can be designated a "naturally occurring retirement community (NORC)" (Kunstler, 2001). The NORC Aging in place initiative is focused on serving vulnerable populations, specifically, the older adult population. The NORC is a program developed by The Jewish Federations of North America, which provides humanitarian assistance to millions of people both nationally and abroad. The NORC’s primary focus is to enable seniors to remain living in the comfort of their homes as long as it is safe and possible, through developing appropriate resources and solutions (NORC, n.d.). For this increasing population of nearly 78 Baby Boomers, the NORC has developed an initiative to promote older adult physical, mental and emotional well-being, reduce significant financial costs of long-term care, ensuring the individual’s preferences are honoured (Bowden, 2015). The Jewish community considers issues for older adults an immediate concern, as the population is currently aging at twice the national average. The NORC consists of four components:
International Programming
Evaluation
National Dissemination
Community Innovations for Aging in Place Program
The NORC offers a Supportive Services Model. This multidimensional model requires the involvement of seniors, local service providers, philanthropists, community institutions and organizers, and building owners and managers to build a partnership and create a plethora of services which address the needs and wants of seniors living in NORC, as well as supporting and maintaining their strength (Bowden, 2015). This model aims to reduce social isolation, improve communication and collaborate amongst service providers, and reduce the gaps in services where Medicare, Medicaid, or Older Americans Act services are insufficient or inadequately coordinated. The ultimate goal is to create healthy, strong communities where older adults can live independently, while maintaining and supporting quality of life (NORC, n.d.).
The NORC Supportive Services Program consists of four core components:
Health care management, assistance, and prevention programs
Education, socialization, and recreational activities
Volunteer opportunities for program participants
Case management, assistance, and social work services
The NORC Supportive Service Program develops an interdisciplinary approach to services and programs, while uniting older adults, area agencies on aging, home health agencies, home repair and adaption partners, local businesses, family caregivers and hospitals.
The NORC also provides several additional ancillary services:
Adult day care
Nutrition and fitness programs
Transportation
Home and personal care services
Congregate meals and meal delivery
Information and referral
Intergenerational programming, including volunteer opportunities
Environmental improvements to promote security and safety
Mental health counselling
Financial planning
Legal advice
Chronic care management
Other permissible supportive services under the Older Americans Act
There are more than 40 NORC demonstrations in 25 states participating in the Aging in Place initiative. Detroit demonstrations include The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, NORC's of Oak Park and Southfield, Michigan.
Other services, programs and resources for older adults in the Michigan area include:
Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County
Housing Bureau for Seniors
Detroit Area Agency on Aging
For Senior Independence Centre
St. Patrick’s Senior Center Inc.
Adult Well Being
Hannan Luella Memorial Foundation
Adult Well Being Services
Delray Senior Housing
Delray United Action Council
Haddon David & Rosetta
Connor Creek
Presbyterian Villages-Mi St
Hollins Rowauna
Detroit Senior Citizens Department
Senior Angels Inc.
Mcintyre, Tyshay
Senior Care Referral Services Inc.
St Paul-The Cross Retreat Hse
Oracle Medical Service
Chore Choices Adult Services
Washtenaw County Department of Veterans Affairs
(All services retrieved from Area Agency on Aging, Services for Seniors & Senior Citizens Resources).
References:
Area Agency on Aging 1-B. (2015). Services + resources. Retrieved from
http://www.aaa1b.org/programs-services/community-services/
Bowden, M. (2015). Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities | Bankrate.com. Retrieved from http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/naturally-occurring-retirement-communities-spx
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://jewishdetroit.org/
Kunstler, R. (2001). New options for therapeutic recreation in the naturally occuring retirement community. Parks & Recreation, 36, 74-81.
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.seniorhomes.com/p/naturally-occurring-retirement-communities/
Senior Citizens Resources. (2014). Retrieved from http://julieslist.homestead.com/SeniorCitizenResources.html
Services for Seniors. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/ServicesforSeniors.html
The American Association of Retired Persons conducted a national survey in 1995 that highlighted that 86% of older adults want to stay where they are as they grow older (Kunstler, 2001). "When 50% of the residents of a building or neighborhood, which was not originally designed for adults who are sixty years of age or older, that community can be designated a "naturally occurring retirement community (NORC)" (Kunstler, 2001). The NORC Aging in place initiative is focused on serving vulnerable populations, specifically, the older adult population. The NORC is a program developed by The Jewish Federations of North America, which provides humanitarian assistance to millions of people both nationally and abroad. The NORC’s primary focus is to enable seniors to remain living in the comfort of their homes as long as it is safe and possible, through developing appropriate resources and solutions (NORC, n.d.). For this increasing population of nearly 78 Baby Boomers, the NORC has developed an initiative to promote older adult physical, mental and emotional well-being, reduce significant financial costs of long-term care, ensuring the individual’s preferences are honoured (Bowden, 2015). The Jewish community considers issues for older adults an immediate concern, as the population is currently aging at twice the national average. The NORC consists of four components:
International Programming
Evaluation
National Dissemination
Community Innovations for Aging in Place Program
The NORC offers a Supportive Services Model. This multidimensional model requires the involvement of seniors, local service providers, philanthropists, community institutions and organizers, and building owners and managers to build a partnership and create a plethora of services which address the needs and wants of seniors living in NORC, as well as supporting and maintaining their strength (Bowden, 2015). This model aims to reduce social isolation, improve communication and collaborate amongst service providers, and reduce the gaps in services where Medicare, Medicaid, or Older Americans Act services are insufficient or inadequately coordinated. The ultimate goal is to create healthy, strong communities where older adults can live independently, while maintaining and supporting quality of life (NORC, n.d.).
The NORC Supportive Services Program consists of four core components:
Health care management, assistance, and prevention programs
Education, socialization, and recreational activities
Volunteer opportunities for program participants
Case management, assistance, and social work services
The NORC Supportive Service Program develops an interdisciplinary approach to services and programs, while uniting older adults, area agencies on aging, home health agencies, home repair and adaption partners, local businesses, family caregivers and hospitals.
The NORC also provides several additional ancillary services:
Adult day care
Nutrition and fitness programs
Transportation
Home and personal care services
Congregate meals and meal delivery
Information and referral
Intergenerational programming, including volunteer opportunities
Environmental improvements to promote security and safety
Mental health counselling
Financial planning
Legal advice
Chronic care management
Other permissible supportive services under the Older Americans Act
There are more than 40 NORC demonstrations in 25 states participating in the Aging in Place initiative. Detroit demonstrations include The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, NORC's of Oak Park and Southfield, Michigan.
Other services, programs and resources for older adults in the Michigan area include:
Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County
Housing Bureau for Seniors
Detroit Area Agency on Aging
For Senior Independence Centre
St. Patrick’s Senior Center Inc.
Adult Well Being
Hannan Luella Memorial Foundation
Adult Well Being Services
Delray Senior Housing
Delray United Action Council
Haddon David & Rosetta
Connor Creek
Presbyterian Villages-Mi St
Hollins Rowauna
Detroit Senior Citizens Department
Senior Angels Inc.
Mcintyre, Tyshay
Senior Care Referral Services Inc.
St Paul-The Cross Retreat Hse
Oracle Medical Service
Chore Choices Adult Services
Washtenaw County Department of Veterans Affairs
(All services retrieved from Area Agency on Aging, Services for Seniors & Senior Citizens Resources).
References:
Area Agency on Aging 1-B. (2015). Services + resources. Retrieved from
http://www.aaa1b.org/programs-services/community-services/
Bowden, M. (2015). Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities | Bankrate.com. Retrieved from http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/naturally-occurring-retirement-communities-spx
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://jewishdetroit.org/
Kunstler, R. (2001). New options for therapeutic recreation in the naturally occuring retirement community. Parks & Recreation, 36, 74-81.
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.seniorhomes.com/p/naturally-occurring-retirement-communities/
Senior Citizens Resources. (2014). Retrieved from http://julieslist.homestead.com/SeniorCitizenResources.html
Services for Seniors. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/ServicesforSeniors.html