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Utah is aging. And the numbers tell the story. Today, about 15% of Utah’s population is age 65 or older, and by 2060, that number is expected to climb to 20%, that is, one in every five residents. At the same time, Utah’s total population is projected to surpass 4 million, meaning more people—and 800,000 older adults. This demographic transformation will shape nearly every aspect of life in Utah: housing, healthcare, transportation, the workforce, and even how communities connect. So, the question isn’t about understanding the trend. The question is whether Utah will be ready.

I had to be “commanded” by my friend, himself just a few months post-hip replacement surgery, to show up that Monday morning at the walk-in orthopedic clinic, just a 15-minute drive from my house. Him, “What’s on your calendar tomorrow?” Me, “Nothing.” Him. “Go! Just get it checked out.” I’d been moaning about my own growing hip pain for months, but I was worried about going under anesthetic at my age—82, and about whether the hip defect I’d been born with would make the walk-out surgical procedure he described much more difficult for me.

On April 16, 2026, thousands of Utahns will take part in the Great Utah ShakeOut—a statewide earthquake preparedness drill designed to save lives. Utah sits along the Wasatch Fault, one of the most active seismic zones in the country. Experts agree: it’s not a matter of if a major earthquake will occur, but when. The ShakeOut offers a simple but powerful opportunity to prepare.

As the heat of summer fades away, so might our awareness of how important it is for us and our older family members to stay hydrated. Because I’m coping with hip pain until I can have a hip replacement, today I watched a video of two doctors talking about nonsurgical methods for how to deal with hip pain. Surprise! One was to stay hydrated because dehydration can be a cause of joint pain.

How old do you feel in your head? Odds are it’s “a lot younger” than you feel when you look in the mirror or see a photo of yourself that someone else has taken from your “bad side.” If you have good genes, have been careful about not getting too much sun on your face, die your hair (that can also work against you), eat well, and exercise, other people might think you look a little younger than you are, but not that much younger!