A Strategy For A Scotland With An Ageing Population

The Scottish Executive has developed A Strategy for a Scotland with an Ageing Population (published March 2007), titled: "All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population" to address the challenges and opportunities posed by Scotland's ageing population. The aim of the Strategy is to provide the framework for:

• access to opportunities for older people to make a continuing contribution
• effective integrated services for older people
• promoting and maintaining health and well-being
• people living in accommodation and environments which continue to meet their needs and wishes as they age.

To feed into the Strategy, the Scottish Executive commissioned Ipsos to conduct qualitative research among the general public in Scotland. The research centred on the following themes:

• attitudes towards the ageing population
• how people view the impact of ageing on themselves -- their aspirations for old age and barriers they perceive to fulfilling those aspirations
• perceptions of change needed to support an ageing population.

Reports

• Full Report
• Summary report

Technical details

Seven focus groups and 10 depth interviews were undertaken between 9-17 May 2006 in both urban and rural locations. The participants were of varying age, gender and socioeconomic status. One group consisted of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) participants, one group consisted of Asian participants, five depth interviews were conducted with disabled people and five depth interviews were conducted with people aged 85+.

The topics discussed in the groups and depth interviews included:

• expectations and planning for old age
• society and older people
• contribution
• work
• services
• health and well-being
• housing
• transport.