Aging in Community
Highlights from the May 21, 2025 Premiere event.
⭐️Aging in Community: A New York First Model
Community Connections of Findley Lake is honored to have been chosen as one of three Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) organizations in the State of New York, recently featured in an exclusive documentary produced by the New York State Office For Aging (NYSOFA). This honor highlights the innovative approach to supporting the needs of those in our community, empowering people to age gracefully and independently within the comfort of their own community.
To celebrate and recognize this occasion, a “star-studded movie premiere” was hosted at the enchanting Majestic Woods on May 21, 2025 — an afternoon filled with celebration, inspiration and shared purpose.
The event kicked off with an enthusiastic welcome from Dr. L.J. Baylis, Executive Director of Community Connections. Local dignitaries, including Chautauqua County Executive, P.J. Wendel and Mina Town Supervisor Rebecca Brumagin shared heartfelt remarks, reinforcing the significance of the NORC model and applauding the great work Community Connections has done to support the community. The Director of the New York State Office for Aging, Greg Olsen, delivered the Key Note address, sharing information on the transformative value of NORC communities, sharing how this program supports our seniors and the entire community. A letter from Senator George Borello, New York State State, 57th District was read. Senator Borello wrote about how Community Connections supports a model for rural aging and more - helping to support communities for all states of life. He included a congratulations on this milestone. Read the letter here. Kristin Smith, the Aging Services Program Coordinator introduced the movie with a reflection on the profound impact of NORCs on the lives of seniors and the unique needs of the rural setting of Findley Lake.
The gathering of over 100 people was also entertained with a whimsical presentation by staff and volunteers who showcased the many programs offered by Community Connections. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and camaraderie as guests enjoyed delicious beverages and refreshments, including popcorn catered by Compass Bar and Grille.
It was an afternoon of recognition, community spirit as well as a reminder of how thoughtful innovation of programs like this can help change lives.
Learn more about about NYSOFA and NORCs.
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the State of New York Office of Aging (NYSOFA) for featuring Community Connections at Findley Lake and for the ongoing support as a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC). Thank you to our guest speakers and the community for the support.
Thank you to our grant and government funders for supporting this mission:
New York State Office for Aging
Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Findley Lake Community Foundation
United Way of Chautauqua County
Univera HealthCare
Health Foundation for Western & Central New York
Thank you to Majestic Woods for the amazing venue and to Compass Bar & Grille for the delicious beverages, refreshments and fabulous catering service.
Thank you to our generous community donors, business sponsors and partners, grant funders and volunteers!
Thank you to those who participated in the development and production of this film to help us share this story in an effort to help others. You are sincerely appreciated.
See what the excitement was about.
Click on the screen below to see the film and continue scrolling to view photos from the event.
💌Social Isolation Survey - From the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)
A new study released by the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) finds significant reductions in self-reported social isolation for individuals who participate in New York State-funded Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs).
NORCs are one of many programs administered by NYSOFA to help individuals age in place, with a focus on addressing social isolation – a risk factor for developing health and mental health challenges.
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, “The NORC program is a New York State innovation designed to serve the needs of communities naturally as its residents age. Like many NYSOFA-administered programs, core features includes case management, information and outreach, participant-driven social programming, and many other services that keep people healthy and engaged. Uniquely, NORCs also provide health care management via a health care professional on-site at the NORC. 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 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that loneliness costs the U.S. economy $406 billion a year, in addition to the estimated $6.7 billion a year in Medicare costs for socially isolated older adults. Lacking connection can also increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily.
About the Study
The newly released 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. Loneliness was measured utilizing the “UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale.”
Individuals were asked how often they felt a lack of companionship, how often they felt left out, and how often they felt isolated from others. For each question, NORC participants reported significant improvements in social connection after joining the NORC and having access to NORC services. The study found a:
77% increase in the number of participants who reported "Hardly Ever" feeling a "lack of companionship" after joining the NORC – from 997 participants (44%) to 1,768 participants (78%).
67% increase in the number of participants who reported "Hardly Ever" feeling "left out" after joining the NORC – from 1,114 participants (49%) to 1,867 participants (83%).
63% increase in the number of participants who reported "Hardly Ever" feeling "isolated from others" after joining the NORC – from 1,143 participants (51%) to 1,867 participants (83%).
Read the report here for more detailed findings.
About New York's NORC Program
NORCs are physical buildings, communities, or neighborhoods with a growing population of older adults in which the dwellings were not purposefully intended for older adults when they were originally designed and/or built. A NORC can develop in a few ways. It can occur as residents move into a building, group of buildings, or residential area and age in place over time. Additionally, younger residents might move out and/or older residents might move in. The age demographics evolve “naturally.”
A NORC becomes a program with the involvement of a lead agency (often a non-profit social services agency) which brings together a range of on-site health and support services that respond to the unique needs of residents as they age. Forty-three NORC programs are funded at the state level through NYSOFA, fulfilling specific NYSOFA program requirements. NORC programs can also be funded and organized at the local level, through the organizing efforts of community members, non-profits, municipal governments, and other stakeholders.
The New York State NORC Program through NYSOFA is a proven cost-saver, helping prevent nursing-home placement, spend-down to Medicaid, ER/ED use, and other more expensive services. On average, this model costs approximately $500 per participant per year and can prevent nursing-home placement or other higher-cost service use at a time when the average cost of a nursing-home bed is $159,000 per year.
NORC Documentary
Earlier this year, NYSOFA released a documentary film, Aging in Community: A New York First Model, which offers an in-depth look at the NORC program. The documentary showcases three NORCs (one rural, one suburban, and one urban) in Western New York at Findley Lake, Queens, and East Harlem. It also features the powerful voices of residents in those communities who are true NORC success stories. Watch the film on NYSOFA’s YouTube channel here. It is also available on NYSOFA’s NORC webpage at https://aging.ny.gov/norc.
Contact Press Office
Contact us by phone:
Press Office 518.549.8983
Contact us by email:
Mailing Address:
Roger Noyes
NYSOFA Public Information Officer
New York State Office for the Aging
2 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12233