The New Old Age talks about NORCs (Naturally Occuring Retirement Communties):
Twenty-five years ago, a University of Wisconsin professor coined a great term for this kind of residence. It is a naturally occurring retirement community, or NORC. The place wasn’t built for seniors; its tenants are all ages, infants through nonagenarians. But a substantial number of residents have been there long enough to grow old together.
Ermin Siljkovic from the Office of Recycling Outreach and Education will be providing open recycling trainings every Monday and Wednesdays at the Isaacs Center through the month of September. His hours are 3-5pm in Room 6. NORC residents please attend. Ermin is also working with NYCHA to raise awareness about recycling in the Isaacs Houses and Holmes Towers. Fifteen minutes of your time and you will know everything you need to know about recycling in New York City.
The New York University Carelink Nursing Program is a continuing health partner with the Isaacs NORC Supportive Services Program. It has been a wonderful partnership that provides vital proactive and preventive services to NORC residents.
New York University Nursing Students and their nursing instructor work together with you in your home to:
1. Monitor your health by performing health assessments.
2. Link you to community health resources.
3. Provide health teaching on topics such as:
-good nutrition
-exercising tips
-understanding general medication management
-home safety and fall prevention *managing chronic health
conditions such as: arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure
Here’s what Carelink participants have to say:
“Student nurses are excellent and supportive of my life style. It is very reassuring to know that younger professionals are interested in the health and happiness of seniors.”
“Our discussions helped to understand the value of having a nurse talking to you as a whole person and taking into consideration my entire life and not just one area.”
“The student went out of her way to find a hearing doctor for me. She called my son to help me explain my condition. I enjoyed our visits because it kept me current on taking care of myself and aware of new findings in health. I really appreciated the nurse checking me every week. It gave me confidence in talking to my doctor.”
“Smart carpets” that sense your every move. Talking pillboxes to remind you to take your medication. Robotic companion pets to stave of loneliness. The Jetsons are here.
Unlike Personal Emergency Response Systems or PERS that require the cooperation of older people, new technology based on sensors requires no cooperation from the older person. Most older people who have experienced the sensors don’t even know they are experiencing the sensors. Sensors eliminate the human elements such as forgetfulness, breaking old habits, and vanity, which sometimes get in the way.
Sensors track an older persons movements in bed, at the toilet, in the bathtub and learn patterns of behavior that are fed into a computer to extrapolate. If there is an aberration in patterns of movement or behavior a 911-type response is triggered.
This kind of technology will save money, improve quality of life for older people, and promote aging in place as opposed institutional care.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
“We’re talking about an important paradigm shift in how we think about aging,” said Majd Alwan, director of the Washington-based Center for Aging Services Technologies. Alwan led a panel discussion on smart-home technology at the Las Vegas event.
Delaying institutionalization by a year or more, is a significant financial savings, he added. “Let alone the benefits in quality of life for the senior and for the caregiver.”
It is easy to imagine this technology being standard in elder communities, NORCs, and senior residences in the not to distant future.
estanley 