As Utah’s population ages, a new Utah Foundation report says many communities across the state are still not adequately planning for the needs of older residents, even as demographic changes accelerate.
The report, Preparing for Utah’s Aging Population: A General Plan Inventory, found that only about one-third of Utah counties and roughly one in five municipalities have general plans with concrete strategies aimed at supporting aging residents.
Researchers reviewed general plans from counties, cities and towns throughout Utah to determine how communities are addressing issues connected to aging populations, including housing, accessibility, transportation and aging in place. The report noted Utah’s population over age 65 is projected to grow from 12% in 2020 to 23% by 2060.
“Great communities do not happen by accident,” the report stated, emphasizing that decisions about housing, infrastructure and public services can affect generations of residents.
Utah Foundation Research Analyst Ashley Marshall-Cantor said Utah has an opportunity to prepare now for demographic shifts already occurring nationwide.
“As the youngest state in the nation, Utah has a real opportunity to get ahead of a demographic shift already underway across the country,” Marshall-Cantor said. “Aging happens to all of us, and this preparation cannot wait.”
The report found that counties with the highest percentages of older residents are often rural or frontier counties with smaller populations.
Northern Utah communities showed mixed results in the report’s inventory of general plans.
Cache County was identified as one of nine Utah counties whose general plan includes “concrete strategies” for aging populations, although the county’s current plan dates back to 1998. Box Elder County also was recognized for including concrete aging strategies in its 2021 county general plan. Rich County’s plan, updated in 2022, was categorized as containing only a “basic mention” of aging issues.
Among Cache Valley communities, Logan, Hyde Park, Hyrum, North Logan, Richmond and Smithfield were listed as municipalities with concrete aging strategies in their general plans. Communities including Amalga, Lewiston, Mendon, Millville, Nibley, Providence and River Heights were identified as having only basic mentions of aging considerations. Wellsville’s general plan did not mention aging issues, according to the report.
In Box Elder County, Brigham City and Willard were among the communities listed with concrete aging strategies, while Tremonton, Perry, Corinne and Deweyville were categorized as having only basic mentions.
The report also found that many municipal plans have been updated more recently than county plans. Nearly three-quarters of municipal general plans were created or updated within the last decade, compared to about half of county plans.
Researchers noted that general plans help shape long-term growth, transportation, housing and land-use decisions, making them an important tool for communities hoping to support residents as they age.
Paul Leggett, director of Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services, said communities should involve older residents early in planning discussions.
“I think that what has been good at the age-friendly process is to help us identify gaps,” Leggett said. “We then use this as momentum to say: ‘Here is a gap; what are we going to do about it?’”
The report is the first in a two-part Utah Foundation series examining how communities can prepare for an aging population. Part II will focus on specific policies and strategies communities are already using to support aging residents.
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