Public Health Trends- Utah

Jessica Bracey

I talked to a nurse and professor at the U of U.

5 public health trends: 

1. Utah has a rapidly aging population.  Utah is known as having a very healthy population, so they live longer compared to other states. A lot of people return to Utah to retire and be near their families for the rest of their lives.  Thus we have people who live longer have more challenges as their bodies age, such as dementia, frailness, caring for them and having a quality and useful life.  Older adults require specialized care from specialized caregivers.  There is a need for assisted living residences, determining if they can be cared for at their home or by family.  That becomes a big dilemma in some families and more home health care people to care for them and also hospice services.  

2.  Utah has an increase in population due to one of the highest birth rates compared to other states. We are saving babies at a younger viability.  As we save younger babies we also see an increase in disabilities that need to be cared for.   We have a part of society who have large families, thereby putting a strain on health professionals to provide services for them. Presently we have a great financial need in this area with too large of classrooms and underpaid teachers and staff.   Presently Utah spends less per student for their education than any other state.  Our ever growing population needs influences all areas of life.

3.  Utah's population grows from the influx of people coming here for jobs since Utah is employee friendly.  A lot of people decide to remain in Utah to be by family instead of living elsewhere, even at a lower wage.  

4. Utah has a great influx of diverse people.  We have growing communities of hispanic and Tongan nationalities, even a presence of Japanese who settled here after the internment camps in the 1940's.

5.  There is a need for increasing health care education and workers.  Those applicants are having to wait years to be admitted to their desired field.   

An issue that is affecting the health of our community is the increasingly poor air pollution because of our geography and growth in population.  This puts a strain on health care services since asthma, allergies and autism have been linked to and influenced by poor air quality.