Ageing-in-place at Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) : A case study on Bribie Island, Australia

Journal article

Jiaxuan, E., Xia, Bo, Chen, Qing, Buys, Laurie, Susilawati, Connie and Burton, Lindy Osborne. (2024). Ageing-in-place at Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) : A case study on Bribie Island, Australia. Buildings. 14(1), p. Article 266. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010266
AuthorsJiaxuan, E., Xia, Bo, Chen, Qing, Buys, Laurie, Susilawati, Connie and Burton, Lindy Osborne
Abstract

Through a case study on Bribie Island in Queensland, Australia, this study investigates Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) as a viable alternative for ageing-in-place. Aim: The objectives were to investigate why older adults relocate to Bribie Island, how they perceive their living environment, and their future relocation intentions. Method: The research data were attained through semi-structured interviews with 21 Bribie Island residents, aged 65 and older. These data provided the basis for an in-depth understanding of the residents’ perspectives and experiences, with respect to their community and living conditions. Results: The findings indicate that, overall, the participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with their current living environment; however, they also highlight areas for improvement, particularly the transportation and healthcare facilities. Significantly, most respondents confirmed their desire and intention to continue residing on the island. Conclusion: As exemplified by this Bribie Island case study, this study confirms that NORCs offer desirable settings for ageing-in-place. Recognizing the diversity and range of personal preferences, this study emphasizes the importance of ongoing research to develop responsive, inclusive, and supportive environments, to strategically improve the amenities within future NORCs.

Keywordsageing-in-place; NORC; older people; inclusive living environments; perception; retirement communities; urban planning; quality of life
Year2024
JournalBuildings
Journal citation14 (1), p. Article 266
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI AG)
ISSN2075-5309
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010266
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85183356843
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range1-21
FunderAustralian Research Council (ARC)
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online18 Jan 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted16 Jan 2024
Deposited25 May 2025
ARC Funded ResearchThis output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001
Grant IDDP230101313
Additional information

© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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