South Scotland Labour List MSP, Colin Smyth, is to bring forward a bill to the Scottish Parliament to create a dedicated commissioner for older people in Scotland.
At present, children and young people have standalone commissioners in each of the four nations of the UK, including Scotland, while Wales and Northern Ireland have commissioners for the older people.
Mr Smyth plans to bring forward a bill to create a similar post for Scotland.
He said: “Covid-19 had a profound impact on all our lives but for older people it was just devastating.
“A day rarely went past at the height of the pandemic without a constituent raising with me their heart-breaking experiences of not having access to their loved ones in a care home because we couldn’t get our act together over testing; the removal of social care packages; the pressure of Do Not Attempt Resuscitation decisions; the loneliness and isolation and the appalling death rate among those in later life.
“I even remember phoning a local factory who I knew used PPE to ask if they could give some to a local care home who feared running out.
“Even now I get so many cases every day from constituents whose older relatives are stuck in hospital because we don’t have enough carers and suitable housing for them to go home to.
“I think we will look back on that dark period with a sense of shame at the way so many older people were let down.
“I kept asking myself that when all the big decisions were being made, who, independent of Government but with the ear of Ministers, was championing the human rights of older people and making sure their voice, their views were being listened to.
“Frankly the answer was no one- and for me changing that is reason enough to bring forward this proposal.
“Just recently the Scottish Parliament appointed a new fantastic Children’s Commissioner for Scotland, a post all four nations in the UK have.
“No one would dream of now asking, ‘do we need that position?’. But that’s what happens when you raise the idea of an Older People’s Commissioner in Scotland with the Scottish Government.
“We have Older People’s Commissioners in Wales and Northern Ireland now doing a great job, and a big campaign for one in England. Why should older people in Scotland be any different?
“It’s not just about standing up for the rights, services and care of older people, it’s about challenging the negative stereotypes of ageing and celebrating the immense positive contribution of those in later life, such as older workers. That’s never been more important as businesses are crying out for workers.
“My own six-year-old daughter is involved in a fantastic little project at school where they visit a local older peoples lunch club run by Alzheimer’s Scotland.
“I know those at the club just have huge smile on her face when the young ones are there and my daughter comes home buzzing about all the stories she gets told.
“She doesn’t know those she visits have dementia. All she sees is the happiness everyone gets from the interaction between older and younger people. Let’s start to celebrate and promote that and not treat folk in later life as a burden.
“Our older people are an incredibly valuable asset for our country, but far too often they are unappreciated. I want to see that change.”
Mr Smyth will be launching a public consultation on the proposal at the end of May to run for three months and hopefully to bring forward a Member’s Bill to Parliament by the end of the year.
The role of the Commissioner would be:
*Raising awareness of the interests of older people in Scotland and of the need to safeguard those interests.
*Promoting the provision of opportunities for, and the elimination of discrimination against, older people in Scotland.
*Encouraging best practice in the treatment of older people in Scotland.
*Keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law affecting the interests of older people in Scotland.
The Commissioner would also have the power to carry out investigations into how services provide for older people.
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