Special Event: NORC Luncheon on Wednesday, July 27 from 12-1:30 pm at the Jewish Tower Recreation Room featuring the music of Amy Baldwin. Click here for more information.

Honorable Mention 2016 by National Volunteer Transportation Center for the STAR Awards for outstanding volunteer transportation programs.

Volunteer opportunities available now - click to find out more!

Definition – NORCs are neighborhoods that, over time, have evolved into communities with a significant portion of households headed by seniors, many whom have lived in their homes for 20, 30, or 40 years. By focusing on high-density communities of seniors and striving to meet their common needs, the NORCs supportive service programs provide a cost-effective way to meet the needs of people in their community and to develop new service delivery strategies.

The Georgia NORC initiative began in late 2003 and was developed under the leadership of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and a coalition of public and private agencies. Since its inception, NORCs have helped more than 3,447 seniors in Georgia to continue living at home safely and with true quality of life, for as long as possible. There are 3 NORC sites in metro Atlanta and 1 in Savannah’s Ardsley Park neighborhood. The Marian Road community was a NORC site and is now self-sufficient – a true success story. At each one of the sites, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta works with a lead partner and subcontracts with them to provide direct services.NORCs have helped more than 3,447 seniors in Georgia to continue living at home safely and with true quality of life, for as long as possible. There are 3 NORC sites in metro Atlanta and 1 in Savannah’s Ardsley Park neighborhood. The Marian Road community was a NORC site and is now self-sufficient – a true success story. At each one of the sites, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta works with a lead partner and subcontracts with them to provide direct services.

The overall goal of NORCs is to help support older adults so that they can remain in their homes safely for as long as possible and avoid premature institutionalization.

NORCs don’t duplicate existing services; instead they fill in the gaps to help older adults remain in their homes for as long as possible.

Research shows that if we can. . .

1. Make an impact on senior’s physical health by providing health and wellness programs, classes, and clinics and by empowering seniors to better manage their health and wellness needs through prevention such as walking clubs and vaccination programs, vision clinics, and nutrition programs;
2. Make their homes safe by providing home assessments, minor home repairs such as grab bars or ramps and by providing assistive devices;
3. Decrease social isolation by promoting new transportation resources to increase mobility options (walking, riding and driving); pedestrian safety and accessibility; and also by providing social and educational programming;
4. Create access to community resources by enhancing connectivity through community partnerships to promote resident integration

Then we can successfully help seniors to age in-place

NORCs exist in subsidized housing complexes, private condominiums or cooperatives, rental apartment buildings, and single-family neighborhoods. They come in countless shapes and sizes, but can be grouped into two broad categories:

• Housing-based NORCsNORCs - Also called a “classic,” “closed,” or “vertical” NORC, these are located in a single age-integrated apartment building, a housing complex with multiple buildings under common management, or an area where a number of apartment buildings are clustered together.
• Neighborhood-based NORCs - Also known as “open” or “horizontal” NORCs, these are typically one- and two-family homes in age-integrated neighborhoods.

Atlanta Area NORCs

East Point - Neighborhood based

This NORC Community is defined by zip codes and not a membership model and has served 992 seniors since its inception.

• 13.5% of 65+ lives below poverty
• 42% of 65+ have lived in current residence for 30+ years
• 89% of 65+ aging in an older home
• East Point is home to the HJC Bowden Multipurpose Center operated by Fulton County and serves as the community focal point.

Toco Hills - Neighborhood-based

CLICK HERE FOR EVENTS AT TOCO HILLS NORC

TOCO HILLS NORC Membership ApplicationNORC Membership Application

This NORC Community has served 365 older adults since it started

• Serves seniors who are generally Caucasian and have income below the median income of Atlanta.
• Toco Hills is a membership model and most of the members have lived in their homes for 30+ years and are over the age of 85.

Meyer Balser NORC - located in HUD housing

CLICK HERE FOR EVENTS AT MEYER BALSER NORC

This NORC Community has served more than 1,800 seniors since its inception in 2006.

• The NORC is non-sectarian and serves residents of the 2 Towers (HUD housing) which make up approximately 75% of the members, with the remaining 25% living in condos and single family homes within a two mile radius of the William Breman Jewish Home.
• The average age of our members 83 years old and many are frail elderly (hearing, mobility, and vision problems) with limited financial resources.

Savannah NORC

The Ardsley Park NORC (Savannah) – Neighborhood based

This NORC community has served 3,443 older adults since it started in 2007.

• 23% of the population of Ardsley Park is over the age of 60 compared to 17% for the City of Savannah.
• 24% of the neighborhood’s 65+ population is living at or below the Federal Poverty level, and 43% are “near” poverty.
• No businesses, including grocery stores or restaurants, are located within easy walking distance of the neighborhood.