The Tree Unites the Branches; The Branches Bear the Fruit

ORANJ
The Organization of Residents
Associations of New Jersey

ORANJ welcomes into membership
all Residents Associations of certified
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
in the State of New Jersey.
2011 ORANJ trifold brochure - printable (.pdf format)

Report on the Survey of Fire Emergency Preparedness
February, 2011

How do New Jersey CCRCs prepare for a fire emergency when elevators can’t be used in multi-story buildings and when residents are asleep after removing their hearing aids? Read the report of a recent ORANJ Survey of Fire Emergency Preparedness.

Report on the Study of Transparency in CCRCs
November, 2010

The report of the Study of Transparency;
Compares evidences of present transparency levels with respondent’s feelings about how much residents enjoy candid and open communication from boards and managements;
Explores possible differences in levels of transparency related to different sizes of a community’s Independent Living population as reported in ORANJ occupancy reports;
Analyzes the different roles of boards, managements, and resident committees;
Suggests ways that communities can improve their transparency.
Transparency Study Report

Report on the Study of Resident Board members
September, 2010

In 2007, after a long campaign by ORANJ, it became law in New Jersey that at least one resident must be included on the governing board of each CCRC. See action report.

The 2010 study of Resident Board members reported on 20 CCRCs with at least one resident on the board. The study found that, broadly speaking, CCRCs with resident board member arrangements established prior to legislative mandate, the “Experienced” communities in the report, differed from those whose arrangements were established since passage of the law. Summary and Full Report.

Occupancy and Fees Reports
are available on the Research Page
along with numerous ORANJ research studies since 2006

Transportation Survey
2010 Transportation Survey: -- Report and Questionnaire

Finance Committee Guidebook
Updated in 2010. Its purpose is to provide residents with basic understanding of their CCRC’s financial position and performance as reflected in its financial statements and other key documents. It provides information to answer fundamental questions such as:
-What is needed for a CCRC in order to have long-term financial stability?
- How do you dig useful financial information out of a CCRC’s financial statements?
- What are a resident’s financial rights and protections under the law?
Finance Committee Guidebook

Other Research
Subsidization Practicies Survey
In June of 2009 the Finance Committee conducted a survey to determine how CCRCs in the ORANJ area help residents who, through no fault of their own, no longer have the income to pay for their monthly service fees. Full Report of Subsidization Survey

Real Estate Deductibility. In 2008 The Finance Committee conducted a survey on practices regarding the deductibility of real estate tax and medical expense payments on residents' US and NJ personal income tax returns. Survey Results

The Meal Credit Committee conducted a 2008 survey with a recommendation that CCRCs institute a bar code and computer system in their dining rooms to increase efficiency of operation. Research Report

The Research Page - 2005 to 2011

For news about ORANJ, its committees, and New Jersey CCRCs:
 The ORANJ Newsletter - our quarterly newsletter
Contact: Ellen Handler 973-275-9290 e12handler@verizon.net