Happy group of seniors exercising on yoga mats in the park.

What Are NORCs and How Do They Help Seniors Age in Place?

In Boston, around 350 residents are preserving their independence and ability to age in place by joining Beacon Hill Village, a member-led community of independent adults aged 50 and older who connect with and care for one another through an array of support services, social and wellness programs, cultural and educational activities, and excursions.

Beacon Hill Village members have access to a bevy of practical services that can help them with tasks like running errands, going to the doctor and finding an electrician. They also stay engaged and active through a full calendar of programs and events, such as trips to the theater, lunches at local restaurants and organized fitness classes. Members pay annual dues, and a subsidized membership is available for those who income qualify.

Beacon Hill Village is not a senior living facility, and members are not cohousing. Rather, Beacon Hill Village is an example of a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, or NORC.

Are you curious about what NORCs are and if one may be right for your retirement? Keep reading for everything you need to know!

What’s a NORC?

Let’s begin with what a NORC is not. A NORC isn’t an organized retirement community, senior housing, or nursing home that aging people move to.

Instead, a NORC is a community that naturally has a large population of older residents who are living independently in their own homes. When community members come together to support one another and help each other grow old in their homes and neighborhood, a NORC is formed.

NORCs help seniors network and meet other older residents in the area, and they leverage their numbers to provide services to members. These organizations are often supported by public and private funding, and they partner with local businesses, agencies and volunteers in the community to provide services seniors need.

NORCs can be located nearly anywhere in large or small communities. Many occur in metropolitan areas of locations that tend to be desirable to seniors and are located near health care organizations, access to public transportation or walkable streets, and commercial districts. However, they can also occur in rural areas, and sometimes NORCs aren’t connected to a physical location, but instead are formed around a religious or fraternal organization.

Check out the Village to Village Network map to find NORC organizations similar to Beacon Hill Village across the United States and world.

How Do NORCs Empower Aging in Place?

Many seniors want to stay in their homes as they age, but this often comes with challenges. Mobility, loneliness, transportation, health care and home maintenance are common barriers. But with help from members, volunteers and service providers, NORCs help support seniors so they can maintain their independence and comfortably remain in their homes. Here are some examples of services NORCs may provide:

  • Support services such as grocery delivery, shopping trips, transportation, and home maintenance and repair services.
  • Health care coordination such as rides to doctor appointments, alliances with home health agencies and medical service providers, and 24-hour emergency hotlines.
  • Social opportunities such as luncheons, recreational outings, affinity groups, fitness classes and educational programs.

Read these 6 Healthy Habits of Super Agers

Plan Ahead to Age in Place

Successfully aging in place requires careful planning in the years leading to retirement. A senior needs a home where they can stay safe and comfortable, and they need a plan for nurturing their physical and mental health. Preparing for long-term care is also essential for aging in place; a long-term care insurance plan can help ensure a senior is prepared to cover the costs of home health care.

Joining a NORC is another way to plan for aging in place. Someone in their 50s may feel too young to benefit from the services, but being involved in the community and giving back when they’re younger and able bodied will help prepare them for utilizing services when they’re older.

Want more? Check out our blogs, 6 Long-Term Care Myths That Could Impact Your Retirement and What’s a Blue Zone: 9 Tips to Bring Blue Zone Benefits to Your Life Now.

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