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Aging in Place: Older Americans want
to stay in own homes longer, live
in neighborhoods with people same age as them

Older adults are living longer than ever before. In fact, 86 percent of older Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, and nearly 30 percent live within the same geographic area as other adults in their age group, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.  

Recognizing this national trend of older adults "aging in place," Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS) offers an array of innovative programs and services for "naturally occurring retirement communities" (NORCs) to help make that possible and optimize quality of life. The JFCS NORC project serves thousands of Philadelphia seniors and is one of 41 federally funded NORC demonstration projects nationwide. 

JFCS NORC programs are available to older adults, regardless of their race or religion, within the comfort of their own homes and communities, according to Lenore Wasserman Scola, director of JFCS' Services For Older Persons Department.  

Issues involving older adults will take on a national focus at the upcoming 2005 Joint Conference of the American Society of Aging and the National Council on Aging from March 10-13. "The Changing Face of Aging" conference will be held at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, and the Courtyard by Marriott, all near 12th and Market streets in Philadelphia. 

As a local expert on aging issues, Wasserman Scola knows why many seniors have chosen to "age in place" rather than move to a retirement community. "Older adults often tell us that they are happy and comfortable living in their own home," Wasserman-Scola said. "But sometimes they may not have a choice if their age and health prevents them from doing their daily activities such as driving to doctors' appointments, traveling to the supermarket or visiting family and friends." 

Providing a single-point of entry to get help, JFCS' NORC program offers older adults convenient access to a wide array of services, such as nursing, gero-psychiatry and preventive health care; social work assessments, counseling and referral; home care, chore and shopping services; volunteer friendly visitors; and group seminars led by experts in the field of aging. 

There are also activities, ranging from Tai Chi to political discussions, scheduled within area apartment buildings and neighborhood synagogues to provide older adults a convenient location to socialize with others, Wasserman Scola said. Transportation is also provided if needed for social events and other activities.  

"Grassroots efforts like these are important because NORC provides older adults with more individual choice," Wasserman Scola said. "We try to use all existing resources in the community which allows older adults to remain in their homes and community. "Studies have shown that socialization, interaction, meaningful activities and connectiveness all decrease and prevent frailty, depression and isolation among older adults." 

The JFCS NORC project, funded since 2002 by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, is part of an expansion of the pioneering JFCS' Services to Apartment House Residents (STAR) program, which was started 11 years ago as a joint venture between JFCS and four Center City cooperative apartments. The agency now operates NORC programs in five Center City high rises and in several neighborhoods in Northeast Philadelphia and Overbrook Park with a high proportion of aging residents. 

The federal agency has awarded JFCS a total of $950,000 in demonstration grants over the past three years, Wasserman-Scola said. Funding for the JFCS NORC project and the 40 other NORC demonstration projects nationwide was secured through the United Jewish Communities' Washington Office, which works closely with local Jewish Federations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.