Indicators of a Successful Naturally Occurring Retirement Community: A Case Study

Abstract

A naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) with supportive service programs holds great promise for providing cost-effective services to enable seniors to age in place. This article describes program activities, services, partnerships, and indicators for a successful 3-mile suburban neighborhood NORC. Program evaluation of participation and exit data are powerful indicators of success: St. Louis NORC's nursing home placement rate is 2% compared to the national average of 4.5%, and its state average of 4.8%. A case study demonstrates the importance of resident awareness of availability of NORC services and home modifications.

KEYWORDS:

• NORC
• aging in place
• community-based services
• program evaluation

Notes

^aSubset of the 397 who moved to independent sites (out of NORC, senior housing, out of state, non-assisted housing).

^bEligibility age for the NORC is 65 years.