More older people feel like a burden than feel valued in Scotland today, according to a new report.

Published today, Age Scotland’s “hard reading” findings focus on the impact of covid-19 on the lives and experiences of people over 50 in Scotland.

Up to 36% of the 3,500 over 50s surveyed believed that older people were made to feel like a burden to society, with 34% agreeing that life is getting worse for older people in Scotland.

Just one in five older people felt properly “valued” by society.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland said the pandemic has had a considerable impact, not just on physical health, but on wellbeing and self-confidence of older people in Scotland.

“This research paints a stark picture of how older people in Scotland feel regarded in 2021, and at times made very tough reading,” he said.

“The last 18 months have already taken a huge toll on older people, both in terms of the health impact of the pandemic and soaring levels of loneliness and isolation. Now it is heart-breaking to read that most older people don’t feel valued by our society, with more than a third being made to feel that their lives are a burden.

“While many of us are looking forward to the recovery, few over-50s have an optimistic view of the future. Instead of making Scotland the best country in the world to grow older, more than a third feel that life is getting worse for older people.”

Covid-19 was found to have impacted on older people’s feeling of loneliness, with 53% of survey respondents agreeing the pandemic and its restrictions made them feel more isolated.  

Mr Sloan highlighted the huge contribution older people bring to Scottish society, before and during the covid-19 repsonse:

“Tens of thousands of Scots in their 50s, 60s, and 70s continued to carry out essential work, including frontline NHS workers, carers, delivery drivers and supermarket workers.

“Many more older volunteers led the response in their communities, reaching out to those who were vulnerable or in need of help. And across Scotland, day in, day out, older people are tirelessly caring for other family members.

“It’s extremely disappointing that our research has found too many of them do not feel valued.  Older people have contributed in countless ways throughout their lives, and no one should spend their later years feeling they are a burden on others.”

The findings highlighted different experience across the different age groups, with respondents in their 50s and 60s less likely to describe their mental health as good and more likely to state it had worsened over the last five years.

A significant number of older Scots have told researchers that they experienced significant anxiety during the pandemic.

Moira Bruce from the Clackmannanshire Older Adults Forum said:

“Older people are absolutely not a burden, and it can be infuriating to hear politicians and others talk about the 'cost' of an ageing population or pensions, and 'bed blockers' using healthcare and social care.

“They give so much to their community and country as volunteers, support for their families and the economy - whether through work, paying taxes and spending.”

“Older people are like an underused resource bank. Speak to them, not about them and society will be so much richer. What a bonus.”

 

Read more: FM signals national pay bargaining in NCS; Scots covid inquiry to examine care home deaths; Where is the social care recovery plan?

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