May 13, 2024
When older Americans are asked about where they want to live during their later years, an overwhelming majority say they want to “age in place”—in the comfort, safety and security of their current home, for as long as possible. But aging at home also brings challenges. How do you make sure the design of your house meets your evolving needs? And how can you stay connected to your neighborhood and community—fulfilling your social, recreational, health and mobility needs? There’s one solution that has helped millions of older homeowners across the country: NORCs, or Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. These housing developments were not originally designed for older adults, but over time evolved into a place where a large percentage of older adults live. In today’s episode, we explain how different NORCs develop; how they can be supported through government programs; and the range of health and social services that may be available to older residents. And we’ll offer an unusually vibrant picture of NORCs through the personal experiences and reflections of Bess Friedman, a NORC resident in the Queens borough of New York City; Kristin Smith, who oversees the NORC Program for the state’s Office for the Aging; and Betsy Smith, an administrator who has overseen several New York City NORCs and innovative programs. You’ll be inspired by this unique approach to aging that can serve a broad range of senior populations, and yet offer “concierge social services.”