The Residential Environment and the Well-Being of Older Adults Living in NORCs in New York: A Cross-Sectional Study

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities Supportive Service Programs (NORC-SSPs) are one of the most popular models of aging in place. This study explored the built environment, social integration, and socio-demographic factors of older people living in NORCs in New York and their association with their health and well-being. The mixed-methods research included qualitative (interviews with NORC directors and res-idents) and quantitative (151 resident surveys and an architectural assessment) data on 26 housing developments in New York. The findings show that socialization and exercise increase NORC residents’ health and quality of life. The study also revealed that older people living in public housing have different needs than those in cooperative housing, namely, a worse perception of their health and poorer physical condition of their dwell-ings. Therefore, the focus of the services offered by NORC programs should vary according to housing type. Future research should address interventions to improve NORC residents’ physical environments.