Characterizing Older Adults’ Involvement in Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) Supportive Service Programs

2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily A. Greenfield ◽  
James P. Fedor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Retirement Community ◽  
Service Programs ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Supportive Service

Participation in community activities through Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) Supportive Service Programs

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1987-2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
EMILY A. GREENFIELD ◽  
REBECCA L. MAULDIN
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
The United States ◽  
Retirement Community ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Service Programs ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The Social ◽  
Supportive Service ◽  
Community Contexts

ABSTRACTNaturally Occurring Retirement Community Supportive Service Programs (NORC Programs) constitute a national model in the United States of America that aims to benefit older adults ageing in place in their own homes and communities. One central aspect of NORC Programs is the provision of community activities to facilitate older adults’ connections with others. Guided by ecological systems theory, we explored from older adults’ perspectives what influences their participation in the community activities offered by NORC Programs, as well as the meaning of the social contact that such participation affords. We used data from an in-depth interview study with 41 older residents across seven NORC Program sites in the greater New York City area. Themes regarding influences on participation included individual circumstances (personal desire for social activity and health status), programmatic factors (relationships with staff and appeal of the activities) and community contexts (appeal of the other attendees). Perceptions of other attendees also emerged as an influence on the social effects of participation, which ranged from experiencing social contact alone to creating independent friendships. Overall, findings indicate that programme features combine with individual and community contexts to influence diverse experiences of community activities. In addition to implications for organisational practice, we interpret the results in terms of directions for future research regarding how community-based organisations can influence social integration in later life.

scholarly journals Promising Aging in Community Models in the U.S.: Village, Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), Cohousing, and University-Based Retirement Community (UBRC)

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233372142110154
Author(s):  
Su-I Hou ◽  
Xian Cao
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Retirement Community ◽  
Pull Factors ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Push Factors ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Aging In Community ◽  
The U.S

Aging in Community (AIC) is the preferred way to age. This systematic review identified promising AIC models in the U.S. and analyzed model characteristics and push-pull factors from older adults’ perspectives. Push factors are those driving older adults to leave, while pull factors attract them to stay in a community. We conducted a two-phase search strategy using eight databases. Phase I identified promising AIC models and Phase II expanded each specific model identified. Fifty-two of 244 screened articles met the criteria and were analyzed. We identified four promising AIC models with the potential to achieve person-environment (P-E) fit, including village, naturally occurring retirement community (NORC), cohousing, and university-based retirement community (UBRC). Each has a unique way of helping older adults with their aging needs. Similar and unique push-pull factors of each AIC model were discussed. Analyses showed that pull factors were mostly program factors while push factors were often individual circumstances. Continued research is needed to address the challenges of recruiting minority older adults and those of lower socio-economic status, meeting older adults’ diverse and dynamic needs, and conducting comparative studies to share lessons learned across the globe.

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