“I’m going to tell you a little bit about what we envision for this program,” said Carol Ban, Isabella’s Director of NORC Programs.  She was speaking to the two-dozen community members and friends of Isabella who joined together on June 19th to celebrate the grand opening of El Corazón, the new Neighborhood NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) in the heart of Washington Heights.

The idea of the Neighborhood NORC is to build a sense of community and to foster the spirit of neighbor caring for neighbor.  Some goals of the program cited by Ms. Ban, are “to empower the seniors by promoting their participation in the development and operation of the program,” and to “create a corps of Senior Ambassadors living within the NORC.”  Ambassadors may need assistance themselves in some area, but are also willing and able to help out or provide services like food shopping or just looking in on their neighbors.  Programs and services tailored to NORC residents who are over 60 years old include social and cultural activities, health care and support to remain independent.

Isabella President Mark Kator, and Tim Kovarik, the Aging Services Program Coordinator for the New York State Office for the Aging also addressed the attendees.  The neighborhood NORC is funded by the New York State Office for the Aging and the Isaac H. Tuttle Fund.  Isabella’s community partner, ARC XVI Fort Washington Senior Center will provide transportation.  NORCs are still a new and innovative concept, and New York State has selected Isabella as one of the pioneering sites.

The neighborhood NORC covers 173rd Street on the north to 171st Street on the south, between Fort Washington Avenue on the west and St. Nicholas Avenue on the east, and extends further south from 171st Street to 169th Street, between Broadway and Audubon Avenue.  The office is open on Mondays, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at Isabella’s Senior Resource Center at 4026 Broadway at 169th Street. 

For more information on the neighborhood NORC, please call 212-543-2091.