ORANJ - HISTORY

Brief History of ORANJ

By the late 1980's, fourteen Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), offering facilities for the three stages of Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Long Term Care, had been certified for senior citizens in New Jersey. Nine of these had only recently opened their doors. Newly formed Resident Associations were facing problems for which there was no prior experience. They began to reach out to each other for help. In 1991 the presidents of the fourteen Associations met at Applewood Estates in Freehold and officially founded the Organization of Residents Associations of New Jersey (ORANJ).

Residents Associations in twenty-three of the twenty-five CCRCs presently certified for occupancy in New Jersey are members of ORANJ. Three newly certified CCRCs will complete construction soon. Over 9,200 seniors are currently in residence. Living units are being added to reach a total of over 9,500 in the near future.

Soon after the organization of ORANJ, its leaders reached out to help in the formation of the National Continuing Care Residents Association (NaCCRA), founded in 1992.

Although the Mission Statement and Goals of ORANJ have grown over the years, the central purpose remains working cooperatively for the well being of senior citizens. Across the state, issues and challenges faced are similar. In working together, senior citizens multiply insight, strength and influence for change and improvement.