Covid-19 shed an unforgiving light on the shameful way older people are treated in our society.
Thousands of senior citizens died of the disease in care homes due to failures including a lack of PPE.
The pendulum then swung in the opposite direction when care home residents were denied access to their nearest and dearest.
Pensioner poverty also remains a problem and heartless scammers regularly try to rob people of their life savings.
Despite the need for a standalone tsar championing the interests of older people, no such role exists in Scotland.
As Labour MSP Colin Smyth has said, this is an oversight that urgently needs to be addressed by the Scottish Government.
If we can have a commissioner for children and young people, there can be no excuse for not having one for older citizens.
Smyth, in a move that should be applauded, is planning to introduce a Bill for a commissioner’s post north of the Border.
An energetic commissioner would raise awareness of the interests of older people and try to eliminate discrimination.
He or she could tackle injustice wherever it rears its head and act as the voice of the elderly.
Given that older people in other parts of the UK benefit from a commissioner in this area, the logic of following suit in Scotland is undeniable.
The Government should get on board and back this sensible measure.
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