How NORCs (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities) Could Improve Family Caregivers’ Lives

At a condo in the Don Valley East area of Toronto where more than 50% of the residents are over 65, seniors’ exercise classes happen twice a week. In James Bay in Victoria, real estate agents promote access to amenities for seniors, not schools. In Kingston, a group of seniors living in an apartment building founded Oasis Senior Supportive Living. These neighbourhoods are NORCs: naturally occurring retirement communities. They are growing in number and have the potential to make a big impact on family caregivers.

The actual number of NORCs in Canada is not known, but it is likely in the thousands. The NORC Innovation Centre identified 1,941 buildings in Ontario alone where more than 30% of residents are over 65. However, their work only includes vertical NORCs (such as condo towers and apartment buildings). That number is growing, and we can expect to see even more in the future.

NORCs have many benefits to all seniors, as well as family caregivers.

• Close proximity to peers creates more opportunity for social interaction
• Seniors who live in NORCs tend to be more active
• NORCs and NORC clusters can become hubs for centralized services
• Reduces the risks that come with aging in place, especially for those who live alone, delaying institutional living
• NORCs are often situated close to medical infrastructure such as hospitals, and when NORCs become established, more infrastructure may be built around them

How can NORCs directly impact family caregiving?

There are some general ways NORCs are helpful in caregiving scenarios. But not all family caregivers have the same needs. Let’s look at some different types of caregivers to understand how NORCs could help them.

Co-Resident Caregivers

28% of family caregivers live with their care recipient, according to StatsCan. Most of these caregivers are seniors themselves. The benefits of living in a NORC are twofold for this group:

1. NORCs and NORC clusters are more frequently becoming targeted for services. For example, the condo with the exercise class also offers vaccine clinics. The delivery of services within the community lightens the load for the family caregiver.
2. Family caregivers often face social isolation, which increases risk for their well-being. In a NORC, seniors are near a high percentage of peers, many of whom are also caregivers. Being able to pop into a neighbour’s place for tea without leaving the building can be a rejuvenating reprieve for a family caregiver. Caregivers in NORCs tend to help each other both practically and emotionally. Many NORCs develop organic groups that organize social events, such as a movie night in the common area or a BBQ at a local park, giving caregivers and their care recipients accessible social engagement.
3. Short-term respite can be a lifesaver if a family caregiver needs a few hours for themselves. In a NORC, there can be several people to call who live only a few minutes away.

Long Distance Caregivers

Based on the same StatsCan data, 10 – 15% of family caregivers live more than an hour from their care recipient. For these caregivers, NORCs have different benefits.

1. Knowing their loved one has a support system close by means that last-minute needs like running out of milk can be taken care of. This can alleviate a sense of guilt some caregivers may experience when they’re far away.
2. Less pressure on the caregiver to be the main source of social interaction can make visits more effective. Long-distance caregivers often show up with a long to-do list, and by the time it’s done, their energy for social interaction may be spent. Care recipients who have a healthy social life will be less dependent on their caregiver to fill this need.
3. In an emergency, knowing there is someone who can help for a few hours or check in on a loved one is invaluable.

Lower-income caregivers

Family caregivers who come from lower-income households may benefit from NORCs through the following:

1. Resident-led group activities such as book clubs, exercise classes or movie nights can help lower-income families enrich a care recipient’s life with no financial strain.
2. In some cases, public transportation takes note of NORCs and targets appropriate service, making accessible transportation available where it’s needed. This is something many municipalities are actively encouraging.
3. Neighbourly care can often replace paid services, such as dog walking, short-term respite, or online delivery services.

Newcomer caregivers

Family caregivers who have recently arrived in Canada face the additional challenge of figuring out a fragmented system of care. NORCs can provide help by:

1. Connecting newcomer caregivers with long-term residents who know how to navigate the system and can provide guidance and support.
2. Providing instant community and a sense of belonging.

How do you find a NORC?

One of the challenges with NORCS is that they’re organic rather than planned. They may not be recognized in any official capacity, while thriving and offering great benefits to those who live there. Some cities or regions are known for being retirement destinations. If you live in one of these areas, a good real estate agent should be able to give you at least a sense of where seniors are most populous.

In Ontario, the NORC Innovation Centre has a database you can refer to, but keep in mind this list focuses on buildings, not single-family home neighbourhoods.

Ways to close in on a NORC

• NORCs are often located close to hospitals, retirement homes, and clusters of medical services
• Ask on Facebook and Reddit
• Connect with community organizations such as local seniors’ services or faith-based groups who may know where there are thriving NORCs in the area
• Word of mouth
• When you’ve honed in on a potential area, go and spend time in the public spaces to see who is around. Are there large concentrations of seniors? Ask them about where they live.

NORCs as an official plan

NORCs are being discussed at all levels of government, given their positive impact on seniors. While family caregivers are not the only ones to benefit, the potential for targeted services that specifically focus on this growing group is significant. Encouraging the expansion of these communities and supporting them once established could affect a broad range of caregiving scenarios, leading to more positive outcomes for both the caregiver and the care recipient.