A Look at Salt Lake County Seniors' Future

At first glance, Salt Lake County is young and vibrant. But it is important to remember those children’s grandparents and be aware of their unique and important needs. Here are a few facts about Salt Lake County’s future seniors. By 2033: *

• The 60+ population will surpass the school-age population
• Those 85 or older will multiply twelve-fold to over 103,000 by 2050. 46.3 percent of them will live in Salt Lake County.
• The retirement age dependency ratio (the number of persons 65 or older per 100 working age persons) County is projected to reach 39.9%.

Why is this important? Because if you are reading this you are likely younger and in great health, but in 15 years, your parents, or possibly even you, will need to know about resources available to seniors. You've heard it a million times, but now is the time to plan for your future. Be aware of the issues that seniors face and work to understand the challenges of caring for an elderly parent. Think and prepare for it now.

Home Health and Hospice services offer solutions like direct, in-home care, but they also help coordinate the more complicated parts of growing old or caring for a loved one. Millcreek Home Health and Hospice routinely helps families connect to community resources, find senior living communities that provide higher levels of care, help with long term planning and advanced directives, and generally provide support during what can be a trying and difficult time. If you have any questions about how Home Health or Hospice can be beneficial to your loved one, go to www.millcreekhomehealth.com and try out our “Ask an Expert” feature.

*The stats above are from a study available on the Salt Lake County Aging Services website, which offers some great resources for caring for seniors.