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Abstract
Staying healthy, independent and happy in one's own home is one of the greatest challenges of aging. Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are untapped and underutilized resources that have the potential to optimize health, independence, and quality of life for older individuals in an economical way. This conceptual article describes the evolution (1996–2010) of the Cherryhill NORC (13 apartment buildings; total population = 2,925; mean age ± standard deviation = 76 ± 8.08 years; 77% female, 23% male) from an ordinary neighborhood to a sustainable shared learning partnership model that enables optimal aging at home for seniors. The process of development, accomplishments, and lessons learned are outlined in detail.