Letter: Dark future

Published on Monday 8 August 2011 18:33

I WRITE in response to your article, "Scotland faces cash crisis with explosion of over-60s" (8 August).

The ageing population is putting an unprecedented demand on the public purse at a time of severe cutbacks. The Register General has said the number of people over 60 will grow by more than 50 per cent in 20 years. This is an unmanageable situation and unless something drastic is done to support Scotland's changing social demographic then we will be in real trouble within a generation.

This isn't the time for "Band Aid" solutions which offer a temporary cover-up of the problem. Now is the time to be innovative and ensure the provision of care for older people is long term and sustainable, protecting those older people who are vulnerable and need support.

At the moment, Scotland is often held up over its "free personal care". I think the name may be slightly misleading.

There is "free" personal care to a point, but there is a significant shortfall between what is available through this scheme and how much it costs to go into a care home or care at home costs.

People are worried that their care costs will eat away into their savings and estate.

Personally, I think a scheme whereby people would pay an upfront "insurance" payment upon retirement to cover any care costs they may incur later in life is a great idea.

That way people know how much they can expect to pay and rest safe in the knowledge that they are protecting themselves, as well as their families' inheritance. It is now more important than ever that people plan for their retirements and old age.

We can no longer accept the status quo and hope everything will be all right because it won't. We are struggling as it is and the future will look no brighter for our older generations if we don't start to make changes now.

Lianne Lodge

Pagan Osborne (and member of Solicitors for the Elderly)

Queen Street

Edinburgh