Supporting Aging in Place: A Relational and Preventive Approach to Integrated Care in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities

Introduction: Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) offer a unique opportunity to deliver integrated care within existing housing where older adults already live. In this context, NORCs are defined as high-rise buildings where at least 50 residents and at least 30% of residents are aged 65 and above. This paper presents an implementation case study of the NORC Innovation Centre’s (NIC) integrated care model (The UHN NORC Program).

Description: The UHN NORC Program partners with housing, community, health, and social care providers to enable NORC buildings to adopt community-embedded care. An interprofessional care team collaborates with residents and local organizations to co-design building-level health and wellness programs. Across two Toronto NORCs, the program engaged 60% of residents, with 14% (n = 109) referred for individualized support. Relational care practices that emphasized trust-building, advocacy, and strength-based engagement were key enablers of success, along with the team composition and structure, system partnerships, and community leadership.

Discussion: This model demonstrates how integrated care can be embedded within existing housing infrastructure using a relational, team-based approach that links health, social, and community systems.