NORCs are naturally occurring retirement communities that typically have more than 30% of the residents within the NORC area. That could be a building, a cluster of buildings or a building within a neighbourhood where a significant number of older adults are living. It brings together services and supports within the NORC to enable seniors to have access to information and social programs. In some instances, NORCs will offer primary care support. They may have a nurse practitioner who comes in once a week to speak with the residents or tenants, in some cases.
Essentially, it brings services, social engagement and activity to where the seniors live, as opposed to expecting that seniors will go out somewhere else and will have to travel to receive those services and social opportunities.