10/26/2026
Naturally occurring retirement communities, or NORCs, are neighborhoods and buildings where many residents have grown older together. They weren’t designed as retirement communities. They became communities for aging adults because people stayed, built relationships, and continued calling them home.
With the right support, including transportation, wellness resources, social activities, and home-safety assistance, NORCs can help aging adults remain independent and connected to the places they know and love.
Learn how this community-centered approach is helping reshape what it means to age in place on our blog:
NORCs are far more common than many people realize, forming in cities, suburbs, and rural areas as populations age in place. In some regions, older adults make up the majority of residents as a result of demographic shifts rather than intentional senior housing development.