Enabling services for naturally-occurring ageing in place

Canada’s rapidly ageing population has drawn attention to the housing and care needs of older adults.
Supporting older Canadians to age in the right place will require innovative housing models and infrastructure
that can support their independence, safety, health and social well- being. One such model is Naturally
Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), which integrate health, social and physical supports directly
within the community. Working with our partners, the Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC)
Innovation Centre at UHN and Bridgeable, experts in service design, the proposed research involves studying
the service model, outcomes, and requirements needed to support front-line staff in NORC contexts. This
research will be used to develop a beta version of an online portal to be used by staff to support residents in
these communities. This research and outcomes will directly benefit both partner organizations; first by providing
important social and technical assistance to NORC in developing this important online portal; second, by
exposing Bridgeable to a new context where service design can provide direct social impacts.

Faculty Supervisor:

Matt Ratto;Colin Furness

Student:

Partner:

NORC Innovation Centre;Bridgeable Inc.

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Toronto

Program: