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Fostering Healthy Aging in NORCs
An evaluation of a novel community-focused aging-in-place model that targets social isolation to promote healthy aging in naturally occurring retirement communities.
The Context
By 2041, older adults will represent about 25% of the Canadian population; many live in what are known as naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs).
Most of these older adults living in community wish to do so for as long as possible.
However, a quarter of these older adults report feeling isolated and half anticipate they will require additional supports in the next 5-10 years in order to live independently.
Loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased risk of mortality and morbidity, even representing as strong a risk factor for premature death as smoking.
Innovative models to address barriers facing older adults which will enable them to thrive in their communities are urgently needed to improve overall health and alleviate costs of care.
Oasis Senior Supportive Living (Oasis) is a novel model of aging-in-place designed by older adults for older adults. Oasis seeks to support healthy aging by creating a social connected community of older adults living in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), such as apartment buildings.
Oasis consists of three programming pillars which focus on socializing, nutrition, and physical activity.
Our research objectives
1 / Determine the influence of Oasis on the social networks of older adults living in NORCs
2 / Determine the influence of Oasis on social isolation and healthy aging, including physical health, mental health and function of older adults living in NORCs
3 / Describe and compare the patterns of health care utilization for individuals who live in NORCs with and without Oasis
4 / Understand how the unique context of each NORC influences social networks and healthy aging
We are using a multiple explanatory case study design with mixed methods. Over four years, we are collecting measures of social networks, and physical and mental health at both Oasis and matched non-Oasis sites on a yearly basis.
Our team is also using health administration data from the Institute of Clinical and Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and link this to our physical performance measures and self-reported health data.
Our team is interprofessional representing five professions, with expertise in aging and community health and health services. This project includes established partnerships with landlords and community and older adult knowledge users.
Funding for this study is provided by:
