ALBANY, NY (September 29, 2025) — A new study from the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) reveals significant reductions in social isolation among older adults participating in state-funded Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), highlighting the program’s role in fostering social connectedness.
The study, titled “NORC Program: Impact on Social Isolation,” surveyed 2,262 adults aged 60 and older across 43 state-funded NORCs. Using the UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale, researchers asked participants how often they felt a lack of companionship, left out, or isolated. Results showed a 77% increase in participants reporting “hardly ever” feeling a lack of companionship, rising from 44% (997 participants) to 78% (1,768 participants) after joining a NORC. Similarly, 67% more participants reported “hardly ever” feeling left out, increasing from 49% (1,114 participants) to 83% (1,867 participants). Reports of feeling isolated also dropped, with a 63% increase in those saying they “hardly ever” felt isolated, from 51% (1,143 participants) to 83% (1,867 participants).
“NORC Program: Impact on Social Isolation study was conducted among 2,262 older adults aged 60 or above, randomly selected, who live in the 43 state-funded NORCs,” the report noted, emphasizing the program’s measurable impact.
NORCs are communities where a significant portion of residents are older adults, evolving naturally as people age in place or younger residents move out. NYSOFA funds 43 such programs, which offer case management, health care management, social programming, and other services to support aging in place.
Greg Olsen, NYSOFA Director, said, “The NORC program is a New York State innovation designed to serve the needs of communities naturally as its residents age.
This report, from NORC residents themselves, reveals that community-based interventions are having a meaningful impact in addressing social isolation, which is a prominent area of concern and focus for older adults.”
The program is also cost-effective, averaging $500 per participant annually, compared to $159,000 for a nursing-home bed. NYSOFA states this model helps prevent nursing-home placement, Medicaid spend-down, and emergency room use, reducing reliance on costlier services.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates loneliness costs the U.S. economy $406 billion annually, with an additional $6.7 billion in Medicare costs for socially isolated older adults. Social isolation also raises premature death risks to levels comparable to daily smoking.
NYSOFA highlighted the program’s impact through a documentary, “Aging in Community: A New York First Model,” released earlier this year. The film features NORCs in Findley Lake, Queens, and East Harlem, showcasing resident success stories.
It’s available on NYSOFA’s YouTube channel and at https://aging.ny.gov/norc.
For more details, the full report is accessible online.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
