Supporting Healthy Aging Through Data: A Registry of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities
What if we could identify the communities where older adults are already aging together—and use that knowledge to better plan services and support healthy aging? The University Health Network’s NORC Innovation Centre has developed Ontario’s first registry of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). Initially created for Toronto through the Ontario Science Table and later expanded across the province, the registry has become a valuable tool for health system planning, community service delivery and research.
NORCs are apartment buildings, condominiums, co-operatives and social housing developments that were not originally designed for older adults but have naturally evolved into communities with a high concentration of seniors. The NORC Innovation Centre defines a NORC as a building where at least 30 percent of residents—and a minimum of 50 people—are aged 65 or older. To date, the registry has identified 2,143 NORC buildings across Ontario, home to more than 255,000 older adults. These high-density communities offer unique opportunities to support aging in place by fostering neighbour-to-neighbour connections, enabling targeted service delivery and improving access to community-based care.
In this webinar, Tai Huynh and Dr. Shoshana Hahn-Goldberg will share how the Ontario NORC Registry was developed, how it is being used to inform planning and policy, and its potential to expand across Canada. They will also discuss work with researchers and ICES to link the registry with health administrative data, providing unprecedented insights into health service use, aging trajectories and how best to support older adults in the communities they call home. Join us to learn how innovative data infrastructure can help build healthier, more age-friendly communities across Canada.
About the Speakers:
Tai Huynh is part of the leadership team at the NORC Innovation Centre at the University Health Network, where he presides over the Centre’s data and policy work. Tai led the initial development of the NORC registry for Toronto for the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table that enabled the onsite vaccination of NORC buildings during the pandemic. He is also the creative director at UHN OpenLab, the parent organization of the NORC Innovation Centre, where he leads projects at the intersection of health and society. Tai has an MBA from York University and an MDes from OCAD University.
Dr. Shoshana Hahn-Goldberg is a Scientist and Director at UHN OpenLab, a design and innovation shop at the University Health Network in Toronto. Her research uses mixed methods that span and combine techniques from industrial engineering and user-centred design in order to improve health system processes, quality, and experiences. Shoshana currently leads the evaluation program at the NORC Innovation Centre, a first-of-its-kind centre advancing new models of social connection and accessible care for older adults living in the community.
About HDRN Canada Discussion Sessions:
HDRN Canada Discussion Sessions occur on the third Wednesday of each month. These engaging sessions provide an opportunity to learn about exciting initiatives happening both within the HDRN Canada network and more broadly. Discussion Sessions provide a supportive platform for HDRN Canada members to share their knowledge, experience and work, as well as gain feedback from colleagues across the country.
Please note: This presentation is in English. The webinar will be recorded and posted on hdrn.ca.