The Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) Initiative in Georgia: Developing and Managing Collaborative Partnerships to Support Older Adults

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

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x16000702 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (10) ◽

pp. 1987-2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

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.

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Housing Models Promoting Aging in Community-A Brief Report on Key Lessons Learned

Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.24966/ggm-8662/100098 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Su-I Hou ◽

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Retirement Community ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Aging In Community ◽

The Village

The majority of older adults prefer aging in their own homes or communities. Four promising housing models promoting Aging-In-Community (AIC), including the village, Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), senior cohousing, and University-Based Retirement Community (UBRC) were reviewed.

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Perceived barriers and contributors to sense of purpose in life in retirement community residents

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x20001749 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Nathan A. Lewis ◽

Naomi Reesor ◽

Patrick L. Hill

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Purpose In Life ◽

Retirement Community ◽

Retirement Communities ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Sense Of Purpose ◽

The Social ◽

Continuing Care Retirement Communities ◽

Retirement Facilities

Abstract Despite the growing use of retirement communities and ageing care facilities, little is known about how residing in retirement residences may impact aspects of older adult wellbeing. Living in these communities may hold particular influence on residents’ sense of purpose, if they feel limited in their opportunities for individual action, or could serve to promote purposefulness depending on the social connections available. The current study sought to explore contributing factors as well as barriers to purpose in older adults living in three continuing care retirement communities. Using brief semi-structured interviews, 18 older adults were asked to describe their purpose in life, community-related activities and any perceived challenges limiting their ability to pursue this purpose. Thematic analysis was used to examine themes common across interviews. Interviews presented a mixed picture of the nature of purposefulness in retirement facilities. Residents espoused several benefits of community living such as social and leisure opportunities, while also noting several obstacles to their purpose, including health concerns and the belief that purpose in life was not relevant for older adults. These findings provide insight into how older adults can derive a sense of purpose from activities within their retirement community and how facilities can better tailor programmes to promote purposefulness and support personally valued roles for residents.

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Social Support and Depression among Older Adults Living Alone: The Importance of Friends Within and Outside of a Retirement Community

Social Work ◽

10.1093/sw/42.4.348 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 348-362 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

M. K. Potts

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Retirement Community ◽

Living Alone

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Outdoor Falls Prevention Strategy Use and Neighborhood Walkability Among Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Residents

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198120980358 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 109019812098035

Author(s):

Tracy Chippendale

Keyword(s):

Route Planning ◽

Well Being ◽

Strategy Use ◽

Prevention Strategy ◽

Falls Prevention ◽

Retirement Community ◽

Chi Square ◽

Neighborhood Walkability ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Community Residents

Background Outdoor falls present a significant challenge to the health and well-being of older adults. Safe strategy use is an important component of falls prevention, yet little is known regarding use of outdoor falls prevention strategies. Aims To examine outdoor falls prevention strategy use among naturally occurring retirement community residents at risk for falls, and to examine associations with neighborhood walkability. Methods Descriptive analyses of pretest data from an intervention study ( N = 97) were conducted to examine frequency of outdoor falls prevention strategy use. Walk Score® data were added to the dataset, and chi-square tests of independence were used to examine associations between walkability categories and outdoor falls prevention strategy use. Results Some strategies, such as visual scanning and holding rails on stairs, were used by 70% or more of participants while others, such as route planning, were infrequently or inconsistently used. With the exception of avoiding cell phone use while walking outdoors, no significant associations were found between walkability categories and outdoor falls prevention strategy use. Conclusion Study findings serve as a needs assessment for health education and behavioral training.

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