Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Chair of the Aging Committee, has introduced legislation that would revise the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) and Neighborhood NORC programs to address changing demographics and service needs, making it possible for more seniors than ever to remain independent and in their own homes.

The bill (A.7999-A), the first major overhaul since the NORC program was established by State law two decades ago, is important to ensure that changing demographics are taken into consideration, the Cymbrowitz said. Older adults are staying in their homes longer, more dispersed in the community.

“The projects currently receiving grant funding are the pioneers of this program. They entered in the first round of proposals when each model was established,” Cymbrowitz said. “All actions we take with these programs should be supportive and consistent with our primary goal of enabling older adults to age in place in their homes.”

“Our seniors are living longer in the community. We need to strengthen and expand NORCs and Neighborhood NORCs,” Cymbrowitz said.

A NORC is contained within a single building or housing complex while a Neighborhood NORC serves a geographically defined neighborhood. Each type of program has requirements for a minimum number of older adults in the building (NORC) or catchment area (Neighborhood NORC) to be served. These minimum older adult population density numbers were set when each program was signed into law, which was 1995 for NORCs and 2005 for Neighborhood NORCs. Demographics have changed and these requirements need to be updated to reflect the increased number of seniors living spread out in the community.

Among its key points, the legislation calls for new eligibility provisions for NORCs and Neighborhood NORCs including changes to the minimum number of older adults and required density of older adults. The bill also seeks to revise matching fund requirements in recognition that these projects are located in low- to moderate-income areas, and allow projects to supplement services provided by other entities in the community when residents’ needs are not being met. The State Office for the Aging would be required to report on the effectiveness of the programs by March 1, 2018 and every five years thereafter.

“This long-overdue update makes the NORC/Neighborhood NORC program more friendly to current grantees and open to new projects, provided that additional finding is also allocated,” Cymbrowitz said. “These changes, along with the others included in my proposal, will strengthen the programs for years to come, but funding for current and potential new projects is also vital to their long-term viability.”