Elderly & Disabilities

Preparing for Utah’s Aging Population: Policies for Communities

Written by: Ashley Marshall

Utah remains the youngest state in the nation, but that is changing fast. The share of Utahns over 65 is projected to nearly double by 2060, and communities across the state are already feeling that shift. The question facing local leaders is not whether to respond, it is whether they will be prepared when the moment arrives. A new report from the Utah Foundation takes on that question directly. Preparing for Utah’s Aging Population: Policies … Continued

Preparing for Utah’s Aging Population: A General Plan Inventory

Written by: Ashley Marshall

Great communities do not happen by accident. They are shaped by deliberate decisions, and when communities get these things right, the benefits extend across generations. Utah is at a moment when these decisions carry particular weight. The state’s population of aging adults is growing at an accelerating rate. But communities have the opportunity now to prepare for this increase in their older populations. One approach is through their general plans. Municipal and county general plans … Continued

Healthy Communities: Cultivating Food Access

Written by: Marguerite Spaethling

INTRODUCTION Food plays an essential role in building healthy communities as it is enmeshed with nearly every social aspect of life. Romantic connections are made over meals, family connections are strengthened by daily dinners, celebrations are defined by the unique dishes served, and business deals are built over lunch. More broadly, national and regional identities can be defined by foods distinct to the area and the sharing of food is a universal gesture of hospitality. … Continued

A Level Playing Field? Funding for Utah Students at Risk of Academic Failure

Written by: Shawn Teigen

The Governor’s Education Excellence Commission, led by Governor Herbert, voted to focus its efforts in 2018 on “providing support to students at risk of academic failure.” It suggests a strategy for the Utah Legislature to “consider additional state funding … based on student risk factors.” Demographic and economic factors can affect the cost of promoting academic success. Lower household income, disability status and lower English fluency can all be rough indicators of the need for … Continued

Taking Care of Our Seniors: An Assessment of Utah’s Aging Services

Written by: Mallory Bateman

The oldest Baby Boomers turn seventy this year. Though Utah is known as a young state, older adults represent more than ten percent of the population, and their numbers are increasing rapidly. Though there have been initiatives in the past, there is currently no state plan to address the needs of the growing senior population. This report describes some of the most critical services that the state’s twelve Area Agencies on Aging offer to seniors, … Continued

A Snapshot of 2050: An Analysis of Projected Population Change in Utah

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

Utah has been one of the fastest growing states in the nation for the past six years. Several Utah counties were among the top ten fastest growing counties in the nation between 2012 and 2013. This rapid growth is projected to continue, though the rate of this growth is up for debate. Projections range from one million to two-and-a-half million new Utahns by 2050. Utah in the future will likely feature an older, more diverse … Continued

United Way of Salt Lake Priority Area and Capacity Assessment

Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes

The purpose of this assessment is to prioritize the specific needs, objectives, and strategies on which UWSL will focus its community impact work. UWSL contracted with Utah Foundation to conduct this assessment, which is a year-long project involving focus groups, surveys, data collection, research, and analysis. During the first stage of the assessment, Utah Foundation held focus groups with UWSL’s Change Councils, main funders, and staff to determine and gain consensus about what the vision … Continued