Why the ‘silver tsunami’ is a big challenge for small communities

High-profile retirement destinations including South Florida and California have openly discussed the challenges that an older population will bring for their communities, workforces and resources.

But the challenges are not only reserved for larger enclaves. In a recent article in northwest Montana-based news outlet the Flathead Beacon, Flathead County — which features a population of roughly 22,000 out of a total of around 111,000 — took a closer look at the dynamics of an aging population and what it could mean in that county and that state.

“According to 2020 Census data, the national demographic of people ages 65 and over grew nearly five times faster than the total population over the 100-year period stretching from 1920 to 2020, and the population segment has recently reached 55.8 million,” the story noted.

But looking specifically at Montana’s aging population may present more concerning information. The state’s population of residents at or over the age of 65 “is disproportionately higher than many other states, ranking No. 6 overall, with 19.7% of its population considered geriatric, according to 2020 Census data,” the article noted.

Carla Dyment, who serves as Flathead County’s agency on aging director, said that the silver tsunami is no longer a hypothetical: it’s arrived.

“It’s important for the community to understand the reality that comes with that,” she said. “We’re experiencing a rise in cognitive decline.”

In 2024, Montana was home to roughly 17,000 caregivers providing an estimated 25 million hours of unpaid care, equating to a monetary value of around $478 million. The acceleration of the population’s aging could put the already strained resources of smaller communities like Flathead at risk of being overwhelmed. The challenges are exacerbated by the closure of dedicated care facilities.

“The rising volume of older Montanans is outpacing the supply of nursing home beds – which doesn’t include memory care facilities – and challenges like workforce shortages and low Medicaid reimbursement rates led to the closure of 10 nursing homes in 2022,” the story said. And despite aging in place preferences, such a choice could impact the availability of care.

Other communities are facing such challenges too, highlighted in local media including the suburban areas of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

“Lilydale offers an extreme example of a demographic shift happening across Minnesota and the nation as baby boomers age and their needs change, prompting cities to rethink their services,” one story said in the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The silver tsunami in demographic terms continues to demonstrate that it is less of a theory and more of a reality for an increasingly large number of communities across the country.