Being and Doing Together in a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community: Pandemic Experiences of Older Adults

• Published in: Canadian journal on aging 2024-11, p.1
• Main Authors: Fernandes, Kassandra, Hand, Carri, Laliberte Rudman, Debbie, McGrath, Colleen, Cooper, Helen C, Donnelly, Catherine, DePaul, Vincent G, Letts, Lori, Richardson, Julie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1710-1107; 1710-1107
• DOI: 10.1017/S0714980824000345

Developing effective, sustainable strategies that promote social inclusion, reduce isolation, and support older adults' wellbeing continues to be important to aging communities in Canada. One strategy that targets community-living older adults involves identifying naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) and supporting them through supportive service programs (NORC-SSPs). This qualitative descriptive study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore how older adults living in a NORC supported by an SSP, sought to build, and maintain, a sense of community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis revealed how changes in context prompted changes in the program and community, and how despite lack of in-person opportunities participants continued to be together and do occupations together in creative ways that supported their sense of community. NORC-SSPs, like Oasis, play an important role in supporting older adults' capacity to build strong, resilient communities that support wellbeing, during a global pandemic and in non-pandemic times.