2025 Penn State Dickinson: Student Seminar Research Paper #1 on Community-Based Paths for Aging in Place
As announced earlier this semester, Penn State Dickinson Law is offering a new seminar course, titled “Health Law, Policy, and Ethics in an Aging World. Students will have at least two research and writing options for the course: an “Elder Law Prof Blog post” and a formal seminar paper. Both pieces will be based on topics of the students’ choice.
The first Blog Post is in! Ezeck Warren, a 2L student at Penn State Dickinson Law brings us up to date on “Community-Based Paths for Aging in Place: NORCS and Villages.” He writes:
A majority of older adults want to remain in their homes and communities as they age. AARP’s national preference surveys show roughly three-quarters of adults 50+ want to stay in their homes as they get older. That preference has pushed two community models into the spotlight: Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), and the member-run Village model.
A NORC is a neighborhood, apartment complex, or rural region where a large proportion of residents are older adults, even though the area was not originally designed for retirement living. Over time, demographic change creates a concentration of older adults significant enough to sometimes support service programs. NORCs are often sustained by partnerships among housing providers, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to deliver health and social services directly to residents. (https://aging.ny.gov/naturally-occurring-retirement-community-norc)
A Village, by contrast, is an intentionally created, member-driven nonprofit. Residents join together to pool resources through dues, volunteers, and partnerships that provide services such as transportation, grocery shopping, medical referrals, wellness programming, and social engagement opportunities. Villages are structured to help older adults remain in their homes safely and socially connected while retaining community control over the services provided. (https://www.vtvnetwork.org/content.aspx?club_id=691012&module_id=248578&page_id=22)
Beacon Hill Village in Boston is perhaps the best-known example of the Village model. What began as NORC evolved into a formal nonprofit Village in 2002. Members likely recognized that while many were still independent, others needed reliable transportation, vetted services, and social supports. By establishing governance and pooling resources, together they created a sustainable model that became the prototype for the national Village movement. (https://www.beaconhillvillage.org/pages/10037-history)
The Village model grew nationally after Beacon Hill’s success, culminating in the creation of the Village to Village Network in 2010. Today the network connects more than 200 Villages across the United States, offering start-up support, training, and opportunities for collaboration. Villages unique structure allow them to evolve with their members, offering services that meet individual needs and collective goals, thereby strengthening the community. (https://www.vtvnetwork.org/)
Mr. Ezeck concludes: Together, NORCs and Villages expand the range of options for planned aging. Elder law attorneys may be called on to draft or review membership agreements, counsel boards of Villages, or advise residents about their rights and obligations. Furthermore, lawyers can help clients evaluate if these models align with their client’s long-term housing, health care, and financial goals. By understanding these frameworks, elder law attorneys can better advise their clients.