Age wave to hit Salt Lake County by 2033

When it comes to the aging baby boomer population, Salt Lake County's demographics are more in line with the nation than with the rest of the generally youthful state, according to a new report by the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

While Utah remains the nation's youngest state as a whole, the report released Thursday projects that by 2033, there will be more people older than 60 in Salt Lake County than school-age (5 to 18).

Nearly half of all Utahns age 85 and older will reside in Salt Lake County by 2050, the study says.

"We're going to be seeing a much older population," said Sheldon Elman, associate director of Salt Lake County Aging Services. "The older population requires delivery of certain services."

Government agencies need to be aware of the aging demographics in order to provide the needed infrastructure, he said. Home builders also need to adjust to an aging population's needs for smaller, one-level homes near medical facilities, and easy access to transportation, he said.

The study compares Salt Lake County to the rest of the state, "and the differences are striking," said Pamela Perlich, senior research economist at BEBR and the report's author.

In addition to an older population, Salt Lake County's is also more diverse, accounting for more than half the state's ethnic minority population, the report said. It also projects a dramatic population shift to the west. By 2030, one-in-four Salt Lake County residents will live west of 5600 West, the report said.

"That population includes a large number of seniors moving out of the metropolitan areas into those (western) areas, if housing is available," Elman said. "If the cities don't want to lose the older population," they'll have to make adjustments.

Salt Lake County Aging Services is working to meet the demands through efforts such as making sure senior centers are responsive and expanding in-home services so individuals can remain in their own homes, Elman said.

While senior citizens have unique needs, there are also "great advantages" to an older population, Elman said, noting seniors don't need schools, there's less crime associated with them, and they tend to volunteer more.

"The communities need to be able to provide services and housing necessary to be able to keep that population," he said.

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