Over time, many people who moved into single family homes or low-rise apartment buildings when they were younger have grown older and now need help to remain in their residences. Such areas with high concentrations of older people are called "naturally occurring retirement communities."
In 1994, the New York State Legislature determined that there is an increasing need for support services for frail older people residing in housing complexes and apartment buildings in New York State and that the provision of support services would help residents maintain their independence, improve their quality of life and avoid unnecessary hospital and nursing-home stays. The Legislature found that while some services were being provided, public and philanthropic funding is insufficient and targeted state funding would help increase other services to these older persons.
Since 1994, New York State developed two NORC programs. The Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Supportive Service Program (NORC-SSP) provides services to older people living in a building complex or complexes. The Neighborhood NORC (NNORC) provides similar services to older persons living in a residential area consisting of single family homes and buildings not more than six stories high. Currently there are 20 NORC-SSP programs and 16 NNORC programs receiving a total of $4.4 million dollars across New York State.
NORC:
NNORC:
NORCs are required to incorporate not-for-profit organizations specializing in housing, health or human services. They must be able to offer supportive services, such as service coordination, case assistance, case management, counseling, health assessment and monitoring, home delivered meals, transportation, socialization activities, home care facilitation, and monitoring. In State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2010, the NORC-SSP/NNORC programs in New York served almost 19,000 people aged 60 and over.
The Marks JCH Good Neighbors NNORC in Bensonhurst is one of many NORC programs that participated in the Health Indicators Project in 2007. The project was designed to gather and interpret baseline data on health status and risks for older NORC residents. The Good Neighbors NNORC recently conducted a new survey focusing on 100 residents with limited mobility and over 70 years of age. The goal was to learn more about the health needs of this population, and the programmatic implications of how to keep these seniors independent in their homes. The survey results indicated that there are several chronic health issues prevalent in the NNORC, including: high blood pressure (77%), diabetes (24%), arthritis (72%), depression and/or other mental health problem (40%), and heart disease (57%). 18% of the seniors were in the Emergency Room once during a 12 month period, and 10% more than once. As a result, future programming will include offering more educational programs for seniors on chronic disease self-care management, and on education and prevention. There are several NORCs and NNORCs which are utilizing the Health Indicators to tailor programs to better meet residents’ health care needs.
