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Salt Lake County Aging Services' greatest challenge centers around the growth in the frail elderly population - particularly those who are least able to meet their own needs. The age 60+ population is the County's fastest growing age group. As the County's older population continues to grow in both size and age, Aging Services has placed a greater emphasis on meeting the needs and problems of the older, more frail, and vulnerable elderly. The County's population over the age of 60 will grow to 238,592 in the year 2025. The increase is even more dramatic for those age 75+ who will grow to 73,183 by the year 2025.

Projected Growth in Salt Lake County's Older Population: 2000 - 2025

Source: State of Utah Long Term Economic & Demographic Projections,  Governor's Office of Planning and Budget

The growth in the 75+ age group is of particular concern to Aging Services. The problems of this older population tend to be more severe and complex and tend to require more expensive and complicated solutions. This group of seniors is much more likely to have:

• More severe and multiple problems
• Chronic, rather than acute problems
• More expensive and complex health needs
• Lower incomes
• Greater needs for help with ordinary activities of daily living
• Fewer family members to assist with their needs.

A significant increase in the demand for home-based services has and will continue to accompany this growth in the elderly population. Dramatic increases are already being seen in the need for home-delivered meals, transportation, in-home services, chore assistance, respite and adult day care, and financial assistance.

The impacts of the growth in the older population will not be limited to Aging Services alone - they will be felt by hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and other community programs as well. The private sector will also be impacted. Recent studies have found that between 7% and 12% of all employees are also caregivers for an older relative or spouse; these numbers will grow rapidly. Increased absenteeism, lost productivity, greater stress, and the potential loss of skilled employees are among the more significant impacts that businesses will face as the number of elderly continues to grow.

Estimates for 2006 indicate that almost 19,000 people age 60+ in Salt Lake County are living in their own homes with a functional impairment which restricts their ability to maintain their home. Of this total, 15,200 (80%) are receiving adequate assistance from family or other resources. In addition, about 500-600 are assisted each year by Aging Services' Alternatives Program. Substantial community and family support exists for the majority of this target population, however, over 2,100 people still remain with an unmet need for these in-home services. (This figure is expected to grow to 4,300 by the year 2025.) For persons with unmet needs in 2006, an estimated 569,000 hours of in-home services are needed to help maintain them in their own homes.

Rapid growth in the age 75+ population coupled with the significantly higher rate at which this age group requires assistance is resulting in a substantial increase in the number of elderly who need help in order to remain independent and continue living at home. Other pertinent statistics concerning this older population include:

• 80% of the needs of all older adults are met by their families, friends, neighbors, churches, and other community groups. However, the remaining 20% do not have these resources available to assist them and must look to other public and private programs for help with their needs and problems.
• Over 18,900 have some level of impairment which restricts their ability to maintain their own home.
•  7,300 need help with household chores due to chronic health problems.
•  1,800 usually stay in bed due to a chronic health problem.
• More than 13,000 are unable to carry on a major activity due to a chronic health condition.
• Over 11,800 need the help of another person in one or more selected activities of daily living (walking, going outside, bathing, dressing, toileting, getting in or out of bed or a chair, eating, shopping, chores, meal preparation, handling money).

The number of people age 85+ has increased by 52% since 1995 and will increase by an additional 90% between 2005 and 2025. This growth is particularly significant in that this age group experiences the highest incidence of disabilities that require the assistance of another in order for them to continue to remain independent.

Percentage of Seniors Who Need Help With Everyday Activities

(by age group)