California's seniors want to remain in their homes and communities as they age, a healthier — and less expensive — solution than institutionalization. Successful aging within the community requires economic security, adequate and affordable housing, and access to health care.

This issue brief looks at a number of innovative models for aging in community, including:

• Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs)
• Living At Home/Block Nurse Programs
• Villages
• Senior Cohousing
• Senior Cooperative Housing

Examples of programs using these models are described in terms of governance and structure, target population, annual fees, entry age, staffing, and funding. The report also discusses national and state policy issues. As the population ages, it will be increasingly important to find healthy and affordable solutions for community living for seniors.

The complete report is available under Document Downloads.