' Nature' Retirement Community: An Effective Idea

Some retirement communities are planned and some are just happening. The latter is sometimes called by city planners from

NORCs - "The naturally occurring retirement community." from

  By leveraging community support services and volunteer programs, they have become an attractive way for older people to age at home.

It is estimated that there are thousands of these naturally occurring retirement communities in the United States, and approximately 27% of the elderly live in these communities. So what is NORC?

Old death

The lives and ages of these communities or community residents are quite long enough to allow a naturally occurring retirement community to evolve. Residents have lived at home for decades, or older people have migrated to the same community they intend to spend the rest of their lives.

NORC is a demographic term used to describe a community that was not originally designed for older people, but naturally growing communities have 60% to 65% of residents over the age of 60. These communities were originally designed to meet specific health and social service needs. Older people.

The term NORC was first coined by Michael Hunt, a professor of urban planning in the 1980s. NORC was originally identified in an urban environment but is now located in all geographic locations. They are usually designed to be small, span several square miles and have a base of 1,000 to 3,000 people. They can be as small as a city apartment or as large as a suburb, with separate family homes.

NORC can be divided into three types:

• Classic NORC from
  
   : This is a single comprehensive apartment building, a residential complex consisting of several co-managed buildings or some apartment buildings that are grouped together.
• Neighborhood-based NORC from
  
   : This is an age-integrated community of one family and two families.
• Rural NORC from
  
   : This is a large geographical area with low population density, usually composed of one household and two households.

Design and implement a NORC plan

NORC is privately developed and managed and relatively new, so there are no centralized procedures. The best place to find information about NORC is online. Here are some good resources to help determine if there are existing models for your community:

• United Hospital Foundation www.norcblueprint.org
• Www.norcs.org
• Many state agencies have information about NORC

Each NORC is different, focusing on local needs and the individual community. Funds, personnel and services should reflect specific communities, and staff can be composed of full-time and part-time employees as well as numerous volunteers. Membership fees of $500 or more per year can significantly support NORC, or older people may pay little or no, mostly supporting local foundations, charitable support agencies, and government funds. The key requirement is a healthy combination of private and public funding.

Older people should play a central role in the development of the NORC program. They are customers with diverse needs and interests, as well as residents with a rich network of relationships, knowledge and expertise. Effective programs will enable older people to be leaders and project developers in the community. A large number of older people are gradually recognizing that their participation is a necessary condition for their later years of life. Retirement can be extended for 25 to 30 years, and without a community support system, older people will face health challenges and isolated risks.

Naturally occurring retirement community support service plan

Some organizations and local governments bring together social services, healthcare, transportation and residents to develop a NORC Support Service Plan [NORC-SSP]. The program receives funding from private sector contributions; charitable debt; resident membership or activity fees; and federal, state and local funding. NORC-SSP directly serves older people in naturally occurring retirement communities and may provide:

• Social work case management
• Transportation
• Mental health service
• Social and cultural activities
• Home care
• Bereavement
• Meal
• Home maintenance
• Sports class
• Continuing education course

Neighborhood village

There is another type of community that has evolved and may be confused with NORC; however, these communities are known as neighborhood villas, depending on the proportion of older people who need to be called NORC. These communities are grassroots movements that provide services and programs for population ageing. Some villas provide services and programs for members who only pay an annual membership fee, while other villas do not charge for any services. Some people specify the minimum age for membership. All very heavy nearby volunteers. The services provided may be:

• Transportation
• Social and educational programs
• Friendly visit or phone
• Assist in home repair and maintenance

Neighbourhood villages face ongoing challenges in terms of funding, and some villages charge an annual fee. Others seek funding from other sources. The first community village was formed in 2001 in Boston, Massachusetts, and is known as Beacon Hill Village.

Alternative idea

A naturally occurring retirement community is a new option for older people who grow up in their families and become lifelong friends. The choice to organize this type of community may seem overwhelming and complex, but the basic principle is simplicity: neighbors take care of neighbors in a close community.

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Orignal From: ' Nature' Retirement Community: An Effective Idea