Scotland must do more to prepare for a quarter of a million more older people
Age Scotland warned today that Scotland needs to urgently prepare for the health, care and housing needs of a rapidly ageing population, as well as a steep rise in older workers.
New figures from National Records of Scotland released today (OCT 21) predict a 23.2 per cent rise in the number of pensioners by 2043, equivalent to more than 240,000 older people.
Only 62 per cent of the population will be working age, compared to 64 per cent in mid-2018. With more deaths than births each year, growth could stall by 2043 if migration does not fill the gap.
Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “It’s welcome news that we’re living longer, but we need to do more to prepare for the health, social care, and housing needs of a soaring older population.
“This trend has been clear for years, but we are still not investing nearly enough resources in our NHS and social care system. They are already buckling under the strain, with delayed discharges out of control and too many older people unable to access the care they need, when they need it.
"Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland are also going to have to start firing on all cylinders to get this right. And it is only going to get more challenging with rising demand and fewer younger people to support them.
“Our research shows that thousands of older people are stuck in unsuitable homes and are unable to downsize or adapt them to fit their needs. We urgently need to build much more accessible, adaptable, age-friendly homes, that are part of communities and allow people to live independently as long as possible.
“With fewer people of working age, it’s essential that businesses do more to support older workers and invest in life-long learning. Working longer is becoming part of life, but too many older employees feel that their skills and experience aren’t valued.
"We need to prepare for the future by creating more age-inclusive workplaces. These would include better health support and flexible working opportunities, as well as a commitment to tackling age discrimination.”
