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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.

The Utah Health Department regularly receives information about disease and mortality to monitor and address the health and wellness of residents of the state. Using this information, we can compare health problems and health care use across time. This report also examined this information within the challenging year of 2020, looking at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic