Austin area getting ready for ‘Silver Tsunami’

AUSTIN – Austin has a reputation as a young city, but statistics about the city’s aging population have caught civic leaders’ attention.

Recent data show the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA hosts the fastest-growing population in the country of residents ages 55–64. Residents age 65 and older made up 8 percent of the MSA’s population in 2010 but are predicted to make up 20 percent of the population by 2040.

Local forecasters have dubbed this demographic shift the “silver tsunami,” and the area’s public and private sectors have been preparing to address issues related to an aging population, such as health, housing and transportation.

Meanwhile, as resources spring up to serve them, some of today’s older residents are concerned about affordability and transportation.

Senior housing construction has grown to meet demand, with properties such as Elan Southpark Meadows and Ledgestone Senior Living.