Scottish ministers are under pressure to support a dedicated commissioner for older people in the wake of covid.
Labour has confirmed plans for a bill which would champion older citizens and protect their rights.
Children and young people have a standalone commissioner in Scotland, but there is no similar post for the elderly.
This in spite of a commissioner existing in Wales and North Ireland.
Colin Smyth, a South Scotland MSP, will launch a member’s bill correcting what he believes is an oversight.
He said the pandemic, during which thousands of residents in care homes died of covid and other residents were prevented from seeing relatives, was a watershed moment.
He told the Record: “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.
“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.”
He added: “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.
“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?
“Our older people are an incredibly valuable asset for our country, but far too often they are unappreciated. I want to see that change.”
As well as dealing with issues such as social care, loneliness and pensioner poverty, a Commissioner could also demand tough action on scammers who target the elderly.
A Commissioner would also have the power to carry out investigations into services for older people.
Smyth will launch a consultation on the plan soon and introduce legislation after hearing the views of stakeholders.
Polling last year by the Age Scotland charity found massive support for the plan.
Net support stood at 71 per cent, while net opposition was a tiny 4 per cent.
Age Scotland’s deputy chief executive Michelle Supple said: “Life is tough for hundreds of thousands of older people in Scotland who are struggling with low income and in poor health, are socially excluded as they aren’t online and unable to interact with or access services, face ageism in work or when trying to get a job, live in fuel poverty, or feel cut off and are desperately lonely.
“It is little wonder then that only one in five over 50s in this country feel that they are valued by society, and more than a third believe that they are made to feel like a burden. That should shock us all.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare huge injustices and poor treatment faced by older people, but many of these existed long before now. It is high time that Scotland stepped up and established an older people’s commissioner who would protect and promote their rights and have legal powers to hold government and public services to account for their actions.
“We lag behind Wales and Northern Ireland whose commissioners have been doing vital work to protect the rights of their older people, seeking out and challenging ageism, poor practice and unacceptable treatment which has become all too common. But we have an opportunity to do the right thing and deliver on the needs of older people today and in the future.
“Now is the time for the Scottish Government and Holyrood to act.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Although we do not have plans to create a Commissioner for Older People, we work hard to support older people through a range of actions to improve age equality. We will consider the details of this Bill when published.”
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