NICOLA Sturgeon has praised The Herald’s Grey Matters series as an “excellent contribution” to the debate on the implications of Scotland’s ageing population.
At First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon said: “I commend the Grey Matters series of articles that has been running in The Herald this week, which has been an excellent contribution to raising the profile of the many different issues that are involved.”
Her comments were prompted by questions from Holyrood’s oldest female politician, the SNP MSP Christine Grahame, who also praised The Herald’s work.
“I congratulate The Herald on its Grey Matters campaign, which we surely all endorse,” she said.
The Herald’s series has focused on the positives, as well as the challenges posed by Scotland’s ageing population.
Ms Grahame asked whether the Government should appoint a “dedicated minister for older people”, working across all portfolios. Ms Sturgeon said she would consider the proposal.
Without wanting to dismiss concerns about immigration, she said there was a crossover with the debate about migration and freedom of movement, and “the economic necessity for us as a country to grow our population”.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said her party would stand up for older people, many of whom she claimed opposed another independence referendum.
“The Herald’s Grey Matters campaign has done fantastic work highlighting the issues affecting older people across Scotland,” she said.
Away from politics, health experts said the series’ focus on health and social challenges, was welcome.
Theresa Fyffe, director of Royal College of Nursing Scotland, said: “Grey Matters has raised some very important issues about what ageing means for our society.
“These demographic changes are already impacting many aspects of life in Scotland, many of them very positive.
“But it will mean big changes to how services are delivered and that will mean very different ways of working in the future.”
Professor Derek Bell, resident of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said the series had highlighted some of the key pressures for the NHS.
He said: “It is essential that we continue our focus in this area to ensure that older patients experience the best possible care they need in the most suitable setting.”
A spokeswoman for Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland said: “We are delighted that there has been this series within The Herald looking across the issue to what are the changes and transformations that will be required to cope with an ageing population.
“Obviously, it is a fantastic success story in many ways, but it also presents some challenges and we want to make sure that we can continue to get good healthcare.”
Charities working with older people said the series had shone a valuable light on key concerns including dementia, and loneliness.
Celia Tennant, chief executive of Inspiring Scotland, said: “Loneliness and isolation in Scotland’s communities is one of the most serious issues we face as a society and it needs to be highlighted.
“Its pernicious effects have been likened to those of long-term poverty and inequality.”
Meanwhile, Lord George Foulkes, chairman of Age Scotland, welcomed The Herald’s focus on the rights of older Scots.
He said many of the issues would be discussed at Age Scotland’s conference in Perth next week, while he will today submit a paper on the human rights of older people to the House of Lords Scottish Affairs Committee.
Lord Foulkes said: “The Herald’s Grey Matters series could not be more appropriate and timely”.
The challenge of providing pensions to a population living much longer after retirement has also been a central pillar of the campaign. Malcolm Paul, chairman of JLT Employee Benefits Scotland, said: “It is really important that we highlight the challenges that increasing longevity poses for individuals and how they make provision for retirement. The simple fact is that today’s workers need to save far more than most are doing if they wish to have a decent standard of living in retirement.”
Dr Patrick Ring at Caledonian University added: “It’s easy to ignore, but if we are to have the financial security in retirement we want, and when we want it, then we need to continue to highlight and discuss how best to help people achieve financial well-being in their old age.”
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