A LARGE number of communities depend on older people for survival, according to Finance Secretary John Swinney.
He told MSPs investigating the effect of the country’s ageing population on public finances that older people have a “fundamentally optimistic” impact on society.
Giving evidence to the finance committee, Mr Swinney said many organisations “could not survive” without the effort and commitment of retired members of local communities.
SNP committee member John Mason said “doom and gloom” is often associated with the ageing population, prompting Perthshire North representative Mr Swinney to respond.
He said: “Clearly, longevity does mean that individuals in certain circumstances will require more support, but in other circumstances it means they can continue to make a vibrant contribution to our society.
“When I look at the volunteering efforts that go on, when I look at the leadership that’s exercised by people who are if I can say it in their retirement in social enterprises and other organisations, many of these organisations and many social-care situations could not survive without that type of commitment.
“I think I would take a fundamentally optimistic view out of all of that.”
Mr Swinney’s evidence came a month after census details showed the number of people aged 65 and older increased by 85,000 in Scotland since 2001 and now represents 17% of the population.
Those aged 80 and older increased by 19% to 230,000.
In addition, there was a decrease of 69,000 (11%) in the number of children aged between five and 14 over the past decade.
The changing demographics have led to calls for a fresh look at policies on how to pay for services, particularly in care.
Mr Swinney accepted some people will need more support but said he knew of individuals in their nineties who were “utterly thriving” and need almost no help from the government.
He also called for a broad perspective to be taken when discussing the issue of an ageing population.
kiandrews@thecourier.co.uk