Ageing Population Crisis A Myth, Free Care Champion Believes

The man who said we should provide free care for our elderly has now described the idea that an ageing population creates a crisis as as a “myth”.

In a year-long study for the Scottish Parliament’s in-house think-tank, Lord Sutherland of Houndwood states emphatically: “To say the population of Scotland is facing an ageing crisis is a myth.

“While it is certainly true that in Scotland, along with the rest of the world, the population is getting older, that in itself does not constitute a crisis.”

Lord Sutherland chaired the first major study by Scotland’s Futures Forum, which brought together the views of more than 1000 people of all ages and from all walks of life.

It found that, a decade from now, half of Scotland’s population will be aged over 50.

The report says that government, business and citizens must take action to increase the number of older people continuing to work. It suggests phased retirement, mentoring schemes to use the skills of senior citizens and greater contact between generations, and says schools should help young people plan financially for old age.