naturally occurring retirement communities: the secret to aging in place is inside the heart of norcs

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norc stands for “naturally occurring retirement community” where residential high-rise buildings have a high proportion of older adults who have downsized.

by karen hawthorne

published feb 20, 2025

5 minute read

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5 minute read

join the conversation

norc stands for “naturally occurring retirement community” where residential high-rise buildings have a high proportion of older adults who have downsized.

“just because you retire, just because you get older, doesn’t mean that you’re still not interesting, engaged and wanting to give back. life doesn’t stop because of a number,” says kalene morgan, a toronto resident in a condo high-rise that is buzzing with social activities and wellness classes for seniors and any resident who wants to join in. the high-rise, connected by an underground parking and walkway to another high-rise, isn’t a seniors’ facility, but a family-friendly condo community.

this morning’s wednesday coffee hour in one of the common rooms has more than 50 residents, most over 65 but a few younger people as well taking time to chat and enjoy the company. the circulating sweets tray is also popular on a cold winter day.

kalene, 69, a retired media and communications instructor from humber college in toronto, appears to know everyone by name and is a force of enthusiasm. “it is really, really fun,” she says of the opportunities for learning and socializing that have grown over the past two years. “it’s really changed the feeling of the building. people are so much happier.”

she’s one of a group of residents who heard about a program run by the norc innovation centre at the university health network in toronto that helps seniors age at home. norc stands for “naturally occurring retirement community” where residential high-rise buildings have a high proportion of older adults who have downsized. kalene and the group received the norc funding and framework in 2022 and talked to other residents about what was needed and what they’d like to see offered. they named the initiative neighbour to neighbour, which sums up what it’s really all about, bringing neighbours together. the program is one solution that is gaining recognition as a way to support the aging population.

norcs offer a wide range of classes and programs for residents, like this sitting workout class in toronto. supplied

social connection in norcs helps seniors age in place

“we are all over 65, but from the very beginning we’ve said that we would like to be intergenerational,” says kalene. there’s a knitting and fibre arts group, movie night, a community newsletter (with 150 recipients on their email list) and a tgif night happy hour where all ages have popcorn and snacks and bring their own beverages in their own glass. “they come here and they talk to their neighbours,” she says of the friendships that have formed in this welcoming environment.

“sometimes it’s a challenge for people to walk in alone. it goes back to when you’re a kid going to a brand-new school. that feeling really never goes away.”

as kalene points out, vertical living doesn’t have to be solitary, and friendships also bring a feeling of security, knowing there’s someone close by to reach out for help or a favour, that people often require as care needs typically increase with age. “it might be changing a lightbulb, but it could also be ‘i’ve got the flu, can you help me with groceries?’” with adult children living far from aging relatives, family support is not something everyone can rely on to step in and help.

the norc innovation centre has mapped out 500 norcs in toronto and a total of about 2,000 across ontario where high-rise living already exists to show how health services can be organized differently. the programming offers a group-based approach for exercise and fall-prevention classes or shared cleaning services and meal delivery, for example, and can include an onsite nurse practitioner for clinics that can help avoid an unnecessary emergency visit or social supports run by a psychologist or social worker. this is a grassroots way to build capacity into our healthcare system.

giving residents a voice

working with the residents is the key to program success and helping them age at home, says sue bartleman, the community connector with norc who is designated to work with this particular group and others in toronto. “this network of people has grown over the past couple of years and it’s absolutely lovely,” she says, inspired by the realities faced by her aging parents. “i was in a sandwich generation of older parents, young kids, and saw the system for what it is. and my experience doing this work with kalene and others is really to try to make change in the system.”

sue helps coordinate a professional to give a talk on diabetes or alzheimer’s or run a clinic to assess residents before and after they participate in the fitness class twice a week in the building. there’s also a survey for residents before and after a series of exercise classes to measure the benefits of increased balance and strength. another plus is having a neighbour to help someone come to a clinic or class if they have a walker or cane and need some support and encouragement.

“what has been most rewarding is when i hear people talk to each other in the elevator. it’s the little things that matter because they can build up over time and support transitions like going to a retirement home or a long-term care home.”

women at their norc in toronto enjoy a nice relaxing hangout in the garden. supplied

neighbours become friends through norcs

other residents enjoying the coffee and camaraderie include jim and mary-lou who sold their condo to move to the high-rise community four years ago during the isolation of the pandemic. as a very social couple, they found themselves “sitting around and watching videos.” then they went to a wednesday coffee hour and met 40 new people.

“being around people gives you a real lift,” says jim, a former university sociology professor in alberta and ontario. his wife mary-lou worked as a media on-air personality with cbc and other outlets. they’ve written a cookbook together and jim taught in mexico for a stint and ended up writing a book about mexican drug cartels. he’s the oldest of nine children with almost all living in the hamilton area. one of their sons is in alberta and the other is in california.

“you know, 40 years ago when families lived together, they generally stayed in the same place. now kids move and go to different places. almost everybody here that i talked to who had children say they don’t live in toronto,” jim explains of the need to create a network where you live and stay connected.

“we have a diverse group and interesting professional backgrounds, so we’re interacting with people and keeping the old noggin going, as studies have shown. i’m convinced it does,” he adds. he is one of the first of the residents to talk about his days in mexico as part of an upcoming social evening where a few people will share part of their life story.

“i’m going to talk about how things happen accidentally,” he says, like the good fortune of finding a great place to call home. “i’m really glad i ended up here.”

kalene says she’s thrilled about her involvement as a group volunteer and seeing others benefit. “i think it’s hard to make friends at any age. i moved from a beautiful friendly street in oakville. we all raised our kids together. then i came here on my own and i was so lonely initially. making friends is a challenge for even 30-year-olds. so, when people are open to it, it’s important to meet people where they are, like ‘do you want to come for coffee?’”

karen hawthorne

karen hawthorne worked for six years as a digital editor for the national post, contributing articles on health, business, culture and travel for affiliated newspapers across canada. she now writes from her home office in toronto and takes breaks to bounce with her son on the backyard trampoline and walk bingo, her bull terrier.

naturally occurring retirement communities: the secret to aging in place is inside the heart of norcs

norc stands for “naturally occurring retirement community” where residential high-rise buildings have a high proportion of older adults who have downsized.

aging canada 2040 report: lack of services, housing and funds make aging in place challenging for canadians

opinion: it’s time canada built cities and towns for an aging population

social connection in norcs helps seniors age in place

giving residents a voice

neighbours become friends through norcs

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naturally occurring retirement communities: the secret to aging in place is inside the heart of norcs

norc stands for “naturally occurring retirement community” where residential high-rise buildings have a high proportion of older adults who have downsized.

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social connection in norcs helps seniors age in place

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giving residents a voice

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