Heartbreaking... how just 1 in 5 pensioners feels valued by society

ONLY one in five older people feel ‘valued’ in Scottish society, while more than a third believe they are a ‘burden’.

An Age Scotland survey today paints a ‘heartbreaking’ picture of the way older people feel they are regarded and portrayed.

The charity’s Big Survey found half of over 50s felt ‘older people are not valued for their contribution to society’.

Only 21 per cent felt they were valued, while 25 per cent didn’t know.

A total of 36 per cent believed that they were made to feel a burden to society, while 34 per cent felt life was getting worse for older people.

Only one quarter of those asked said it was getting better.

People in their 50s and 60s were less likely to feel life was getting better than those over 70.

Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: ‘This research paints a stark picture of how older people in Scotland feel regarded in 2021, and at times made very tough reading.

‘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 heartbreaking 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 over50s 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.’

Mr Sloan said that the charity had commissioned the survey in order to better understand the challenges facing over-50s in Scotland.

He added: ‘It is clear that the pandemic has had a considerable impact, not just on physical health, but also on the well-being and self-confidence of older people in Scotland.’

Researcher Scotinform asked wide-ranging questions of more than 3,500 people aged 50 and over.

Tens of thousands of Scots of that age have continued to carry out essential work during the pandemic, including frontline NHS workers, carers, delivery drivers and supermarket workers.

Many more acted as volunteers throughout the crisis, reaching out to those who were vulnerable in their community, or cared for other family members.

Mr Sloan added: ‘Although older people are often portrayed as helpless victims, this outdated image belies the huge contribution made by those in later life – even during the coronavirus pandemic. It is 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.’

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison yesterday said that older people had been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

She added: ‘No one should ever feel a burden to society.

‘Older people make a huge and vital contribution to society, to the workplace, volunteering, and to their own families, particularly if they have caring responsibilities.

‘The Scottish Government very much value our older people and this is shown through our A Fairer Scotland for Older People action plan, which was specifically developed to challenge the inequalities older people face as they age and to celebrate older people.

‘We intend to include in our Human Rights Bill a right for older people to ensure equal access to their human rights so that they can live a life of dignity and independence.’

Previous research by Age Scotland has shown 100,000 older people in Scotland feel lonely all or most of the time and 200,000 go half a week without a visit or call from anyone.

‘Portrayed as helpless victims’