Oasis Senior Supportive Living: Description of a Novel Aging-in-Place Model in Ontario

Older adults are the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada, and the majority of older adults want to age-in-place within their communities. Many older adults live in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), unplanned communities with a high proportion of older residents. NORC supportive services programs can help older adults suc-cessfully age-in-place. One such program is Oasis Senior Supportive Living, a partnership between older adults, building owners and manag-ers, community partners, funders, and researchers. Using a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with Oasis participants to under-stand their experiences of Oasis. This article will describe the three pillars upon which Oasis programming is based and provide insights from Oasis participants. It will discuss nutrition programming implemented in these NORCs and suggest how dietitians can support NORC residents.

Automated summary

Older adults in Canada make up the fastest-growing demographic group, with a desire to age-in-place within their communities. Many of them reside in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) with a high concentration of older residents. NORC supportive services programs like Oasis Senior Supportive Living have emerged to aid older adults in successfully aging-in-place. This article explores the pillars of Oasis programming and shares insights from Oasis participants, particularly emphasizing the implementation of nutrition programs and the role of dietitians in supporting NORC residents.