International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Public health

Background: The term Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) has been used in the United States since the 1980s. NORCs are defined as communities where people remain or move to when they retire. NORCs develop ‘naturally’, meaning that seniors tend to remain or move there when they retire, although the residences and physical environment were not constructed for a senior/retired population. Recently, the term Healthy-NORC has been introduced and is associated with both healthy aging and the role of local governments.

Objectives/Methods: We describe how demographic trends (e.g., aging population & the desire to ‘age in place’), will facilitate a dramatic growth in NORCs. Acknowledging the ‘Determinants of Health’ model, we suggest some determinants impact people differently at different ages. We argue that more attention be focused on the impact of physical/social environments on health, and that some determinants of health are particularly relevant for seniors. We argue that NORCs exist on a spectrum, from NORC to H-NORC, and that health benefits for seniors increase as NORCs adopt additional characteristics associated with improved senior health. We also illustrate H-NORC research methods and policy options for local governments.

Results/Conclusion: Compared to the provision of additional medical and social services, H-NORCs represent a low-cost approach to facilitating healthy aging. Municipal governments can promote healthy aging and should pursue policies that will stimulate H-NORC development.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)