Tag: older people

Age Scotland: Feeling Lonely?

NEW GUIDE LAUNCHED AHEAD OF LONELINESS AWARENESS WEEK

Ahead of #LonelinessAwarenessWeek, we’re launching a brand new loneliness guide resource, explaining some of the common causes of loneliness and providing practical advice about building more, and more fulfilling, social connection.

Get your copy today:

GEN10_Feeling_Lonely_Jun_2025_originalDownload

Letters: Urgent action needed to support older Scots

Dear Editor,

Our charity recently released a new Index into the financial wellbeing of older Scots. Across the country, the results were stark, and closer to home they reveal the tough choices many in later life in the Lothian region are being forced to make.

Our data has shown that, shockingly, in the region, 22% of older people have skipped meals in the last year. Just 20% say that the State Pension is enough to cover basic living expenses.

The Scottish Government recently put forward its Programme for Government, and again, despite rising levels of pensioner poverty, there was no proposed plan to tackle this.  

At Independent Age, we know urgent action is needed. A pensioner poverty strategy should include a Pension Credit awareness campaign, which is a vital source of support for older people on a low income that a significant number in the region – 18% – do not even know about.

The results of our Index show the unacceptable financial difficulties many older people in the Lothian are experiencing. This must change. Both the UK and Scottish Government must act.

Debbie Horne

Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age

Independent Age is a national charity supporting older people facing financial hardship. You can access advice on money, housing, health and care at independentage.org or through a free helpline on 0800 319 6789.

Study shows hearing intervention may reduce risk of falls among older adults

New paper led by ENU’s Dr Adele Goman is the first randomised control trial of this kind

Hearing interventions such as hearing aids and regular audiology appointments have been linked to a reduction in the number of falls among older adults, according to a new paper led by Dr Adele Goman of Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Health & Social Care.

This research, published today in the Lancet Public Health journal, showed that participants with hearing loss who were randomly assigned best practice hearing care reported an average of 27% fewer falls over the course of three years compared to a control group.

Falls are a leading cause of injury for older people and have rising mortality rates, while hearing loss is highly prevalent among those aged 70 and above. However, existing evidence on the effect of hearing aids on falls is mixed, and limited by the methodology of previous studies.

Goman and her colleagues analysed data from the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study, a three-year, unmasked, randomised controlled trial of adults aged 70–84 years in the USA designed to study the effect of intervention on cognitive abilities and other health outcomes, such as falls.

The ACHIEVE study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.  It was conducted by a consortium of eight universities in the United States and led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

The 977 ACHIEVE study participants, all of whom had hearing loss, were randomly assigned to either receive a hearing intervention or to a health education control intervention. Those randomly assigned to the hearing intervention were offered regular one-to-one audiologist appointments, bilateral hearing aids, the option of additional hearing assistive devices, device use support and educational materials. The health education control intervention group received the same number of appointments with a health educator and more broad educational content on healthy aging.

For this paper, participants were asked to report the number of falls they had experienced over a period of three years. Data indicate that participants who received the hearing intervention reported an average of 27% fewer falls over the course of three years compared to a control group.

Dr Goman’s is the first known large-scale randomised control trial that has examined the effect of hearing intervention on falls.

The researchers believe the reduced number of falls among the hearing intervention group could be down to improved auditory input enhancing spatial awareness, or from having to devote less attention to processing auditory input allowing for more attention to be placed on maintaining postural control.

They are now working on a follow-up study with participants to examine the longer-term effects of hearing intervention on brain health, falls, and other health outcomes.

Dr Adele Goman said: “Hearing loss has previously been associated with a greater risk of falling among older adults, but few studies have directly investigated the connection.

“It is possible that the benefit of improved hearing may have enhanced the spatial environmental awareness of these participants, or that the lower demand on cognitive resources for hearing allowed them to focus more on their movement.

“As this is the first study of its kind, more research is needed to establish our conclusion that hearing intervention may reduce the overall average rate of falls. Our ongoing follow-up will also aim to tell us more about the effect over a longer period of time.

“We hope that these findings have the potential to inform researchers and health professionals, and address a leading cause of injury among older people.”

Vintage Vibes set Cake Grab date

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY 13th JULY at LEONARDO MURRAYFIELD

Exciting announcement! After a couple of technical challenges our Cake Grab Event will be taking place on Sunday 13th July at the Leonardo Murrayfield (great parking and public transport).

What’s a cake grab? 100 lovely local folks bring 100 amazing homemade cakes and we all spend the afternoon stuffing our faces, chatting, playing games, drinking tea and having a great time whilst doing good.

Tickets will be a £10 donation to Vintage Vibes to tackle local loneliness in older people. For now, save the date! 🍰

Heriot-Watt University and Age Scotland strengthen partnership to improve the lives of older people

Heriot-Watt University has further cemented its longstanding relationship with leading charity Age Scotland by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aimed at accelerating impactful research and innovation to enhance the lives of older people across the country.

The new MOU builds on a rich history of collaboration between Heriot-Watt researchers and Age Scotland, particularly through initiatives led by Professor Alan Gow and the University’s wattAGE network, which has championed healthy ageing projects for several years. This agreement sets the stage for an even closer, more strategic partnership, focused on translating cutting-edge research into tangible benefits for older citizens.

Michelle Beukes, Business Development Manager within the Global Research Institute for Health and Care Technologies at Heriot-Watt, explained: “This MoU marks an exciting step in deepening our collaboration with Age Scotland.

“It creates a structured pathway for expanding our joint efforts and ensures that our research aligns closely with the real-world needs of older people. By combining academic insight with lived experience, we can drive meaningful change and deliver a positive impact for people across Scotland.”

Central to the partnership is a shared ambition that will see Heriot-Watt’s world-class research expertise combine with Age Scotland’s unique insight into the lived experiences and challenges faced by older people. Together, they aim to co-create solutions that are not only innovative but also practical, accessible, and impactful.

The collaboration has already produced significant results. Age Scotland is a key partner in ‘CONSOLIDATE’ — a £2 million EPSRC-funded ‘Network Plus’ project led by Professor Gow — which focuses on co-designing technology for people with dementia. This approach ensures that emerging technologies meet actual needs, promoting a better quality of life for users and helping to address pressing challenges in health and social care.

Professor Gow from the School of Social Sciences said: “Over a number of years, we’ve been privileged to partner with Age Scotland on a range of activities and projects that support healthy ageing in Scotland.

“This new phase of partnership builds upon that foundation and will open up many new opportunities, not just as a bridge between research and the third sector but driven by our shared commitment that the voices of older people shape and lead what we do together.

“By working more closely with Age Scotland, we will drive forward research and innovation to positively impact quality of life for all as we get older.”

Beyond research, the MOU outlines opportunities for wider collaboration, including student internships, staff volunteering, community engagement projects, and policy influence initiatives.

With Age Scotland playing a major role in shaping national policy on ageing issues, Heriot-Watt’s research can feed directly into government conversations around healthcare innovation, digital inclusion, and support for ageing in place.

Michelle added: “This partnership is pivotal in strengthening Heriot-Watt’s position as a key player in health and care technologies, particularly in the healthy ageing space. We are committed to creating innovative solutions that don’t sit on a shelf, but that truly transforms lives and with Age Scotland’s expertise and network, we can better achieve this.”

The MOU, which will be governed by a shared strategic plan and regular review, represents a long-term commitment by both institutions to ensure Scotland’s ageing population benefits from inclusive, research-driven innovation.

Katherine Crawford, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive said: “Supporting an older and ageing population is one if the biggest challenges of our time, and one which governments across the world have not yet got to grips with.

“Ensuring older people are at the heart of the research which drives innovation for their benefit is essential. Their unique experiences and perspectives are hugely valuable, but they are often excluded. I am really excited about what we can achieve together by pairing Age Scotland’s networks, insight and expertise with world class researchers at Heriot-Watt University.”

Heriot-Watt’s Health and Care Technologies Global Research Institute is a Worldwide Centre of Excellence for transdisciplinary research, innovation and training. It enables academics to work together with healthcare professionals, industry, and citizens to help co-develop solutions.

Anyone interested in working with this GRI can contact the Global Research Innovation and Discovery (GRID) team at GRID@hw.ac.uk.

Risk of ‘two-tier society’ if UK Government does not act on cash acceptance

A lack of action from the Government to tackle declining cash acceptance could lead to a two-tier society with the most vulnerable bearing the cost, a new report by the Treasury Committee finds. 

The Committee heard directly from vulnerable groups, including people with learning disabilities, domestic abuse victims and the elderly, that buying essential goods and services can cost more as the number of places where they can spend their cash is reduced.

People who are already at increased risk of poverty will, therefore, face a poverty premium if cash is not widely accepted by businesses and other organisations. 

 The acceptance of physical currency for goods and services in the UK is not currently specified in any legislation. This means UK businesses and organisations could choose not to accept cash with no legal duty to accommodate customers’ varying needs. 

Evidence submitted during the course of the inquiry sets out the challenge when attempting to assess levels of cash acceptance in the UK. For example, data from LINK in 2024 found half of respondents had been somewhere that did not accept cash or discouraged cash usage in the previous eight weeks. However, when polled by Savanta, 98% of small businesses said they accepted cash. 

The lack of consistent evidence makes it difficult for anyone, including the Treasury, to determine the state of cash acceptance in the UK. In its report, the Treasury Committee calls on the Government to undertake vastly improved monitoring and reporting of cash acceptance levels. If it doesn’t, it risks creating a two-tier system where vulnerable groups become excluded from community spaces such as leisure centres, theatres and public transport. 

When appearing before the Committee, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury stated: “we have no plans to regulate businesses, big or small, to compel them to accept cash”.  

Having heard evidence on the impact of declining cash acceptance on vulnerable communities, MPs on the Committee believe there may come a time in the future when it becomes necessary for the Treasury to mandate cash acceptance if those who rely on physical cash are not adequately supported. 

The report also highlights the national resilience benefits of maintaining the ability to spend physical cash, particularly in relation to recent bank outages which Members were told led to a surge in cash withdrawals. 

Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Dame Meg Hillier MP said: “The Government is in the dark on how widely cash is being accepted and that is completely unsustainable. We are at risk of a two-tier society where the most vulnerable bear the brunt and this needs to be a wakeup call. 

“Our Committee has sought to give a voice to those groups which are at severe risk of not being heard by Government policymakers. A sizeable minority depend on being able to use cash and they must not be forgotten by Whitehall. 

“As a society, we must avoid sleepwalking into a situation where cash is no longer widely accepted. This is the beginning, not the end, of our scrutiny of this issue. The Government needs to take this seriously.” 

Independent Age: Pension Credit

Pension Credit can top up your income to a minimum level if you’ve reached State Pension age. Lots of people who qualify for it aren’t claiming it, so it’s worth checking if you can get it.

Who can claim Pension Credit?

To qualify for Pension Credit, you must have reached State Pension age. Use the Gov.uk online tool to check when you’ll reach State Pension age.

There are two types of Pension Credit:

  • Guarantee Credit
  • Savings Credit.

To qualify for Guarantee Credit, your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the government says you need to live on. For 2025/26, this is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple. This amount could be higher if you’re disabled, a carer, are responsible for children or have certain housing costs.

You can only get Savings Credit if:

  • you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already getting it
  • and you have qualifying income of at least £198.27 a week for a single person and £314.34 a week for a couple.

Read our factsheet Pension Credit for more information.

Use our free benefits calculator to work out if you might be able to get Pension Credit. You can also call our free Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to speak to an adviser.

How much can you get?

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:

  • £227.10 for a single person
  • £346.60 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or living together).

You might be able to get more than this if you’re disabled, a carer, are responsible for children or you have certain housing costs. See our factsheet Pension Credit for more information.

Savings Credit can give you up to:

  • £17.30 a week for a single person
  • £19.36 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or living together).

The exact amount you’ll get depends on your income.

Savings, investments or other capital of more than £10,000 will also affect how much you get. For every £500 (or part of £500) you have over £10,000, it’s assumed you have an extra £1 of weekly income.

Here’s an example:

Mr Smith is 76 years old. He is not a carer and he has no health conditions or personal care needs. He is single, rents his home and has a State Pension of £140.18 a week and an occupational pension of £25 a week. He also has savings of £11,000. The first £10,000 are ignored, and an extra £1 of income is counted for every £500 above this. This means he has an assumed income from savings of £2 a week. So, his income is calculated as:

  • £140.18 State Pension + £25.00 occupational pension + £2.00 assumed income = £167.18 total income
  • Mr Smith’s appropriate minimum guarantee is £227.10
  • £227.10 appropriate minimum guarantee – £167.18 income = £59.92

This gives him Guarantee Credit of £59.92 a week.

Other entitlements if you get Pension Credit

If you get Pension Credit, you may qualify for other benefits, including:

If you’re 75 or over, you can also apply for a free TV licence.

How to claim Pension Credit

To apply for Pension Credit, call the claim line on 0800 99 1234. You can also claim online if you’ve already applied for your State Pension. Or you can download an application form to print out. You won’t need a stamp when you return your form.

You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age, and any time after. Claims for Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months if you qualified for it for the whole of that period. 

When you claim, you’ll need the following information:

  • your National Insurance number
  • information about your income, including your pensions
  • details of your savings, investments and other capital
  • your bank account details.

If you have a partner, you’ll need the same details for them too.

If you need support to fill in the form, one of our advisers can help you complete it over the phone. Call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789. Or you could get help from your local Citizens Advice. Search the Citizens Advice website for England and Wales or visit Citizens Advice Scotland to find your nearest branch.

Rules for mixed-age couples

You cannot usually make a new claim for Pension Credit if you live with a partner who is under State Pension age unless:

  1. one of you reached State Pension age before 15 May 2019, and
  2. one of you has been claiming pension age Housing Benefit since 15 May 2019 as part of the same couple. 

If you cannot claim Pension Credit, you may be able to claim Universal Credit instead, until you both reach State Pension age.

Contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 for more information. 

Local Care Home to host free Fall Prevention Talk

STRACHAN HOUSE CARE HOME – SATURDAY 26 APRIL 11am

Barchester’s Strachan House Care Home in Blackhall is hosting a free Falls Prevention Talk on Saturday 26th April from 11.00 am and is inviting members of the community to attend.  

Staff and physiotherapist, Kirsten Macleod BSc Hons who are specially trained in Falls Prevention from Strachan House will deliver the talk which will cover topics such as learning valuable tips and techniques to reduce the risk of falls and promote safety for yourself and your loved ones at home.

Our expert team will guide you through practical exercises and offer advice. There will be plenty of time for Q&A during and at the end of the session.  Please come along to Strachan House, 93 Craigcrook Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3PE on Saturday 26th April, if you would like to attend.

General Manager, Fran Fisher says: “We want to help and support relatives, friends and members of our local community to better understand fall prevention.

“We are inviting everyone to come along and listen to our talk to raise awareness and to help give people some information and coping strategies.  Please RSVP to StrachanHouse@Barchester.com if you would like to attend.”

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides dementia care, nursing care and respite care. 

For more information, please contact StrachanHouse@Barchester.com

Hourglass: Abuse of older people doubled during pandemic

“Older victims of abuse were locked in and left behind” – that’s the stark warning from Richard Robinson, Chief Executive of Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse of older people, as he spoke to the Domestic Abuse Support and Safeguarding roundtable today.
 
Attending the Inquiry’s final investigation into the societal consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard Robinson is highlighting the often-overlooked impact of the pandemic and government restrictions on older victims of domestic abuse—many of whom were trapped with their abusers, cut off from support, left out of crisis planning, and their needs ignored in pandemic guidance and restrictions.

Calling for dramatic change, he is urging policymakers to ensure older people are no longer an afterthought at times of national emergency.
 
The roundtable session, part of the Inquiry’s final investigation (Module 10), took place today, bringing together leading voices from across the domestic abuse and safeguarding sectors to examine the societal consequences of the pandemic, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations.

Speaking ahead of his attendance, Mr Robinson said: “We must be clear: the pandemic intensified existing inequalities, isolating older people and placing many in harm’s way. At Hourglass, we saw a sharp rise in abuse cases as victims were locked in with perpetrators and cut off from help.
 
Older people in general were left behind – not just in policy, but in protection – and older victim-survivors of domestic abuse were almost entirely ignored. That must never happen again.”
 
Hourglass data, which Mr Robinson presented to the Inquiry, includes: 

  • A 33% rise in calls to its helpline in 2020/21, with a further 22% increase the following year.
  • A surge in psychological and sexual abuse cases, and a doubling of reports involving abuse by neighbours.
  • Widespread concern about neglect and loneliness, with nearly half of the public believing older people became more vulnerable to abuse during lockdown.
  • Evidence that 43% of adult family homicide victims during the pandemic were aged 65 or over.

Mr Robinson is calling for urgent and lasting change, including a Violence Against Older People Strategy to sit alongside the existing VAWG framework; a comprehensive Safer Ageing Strategy to tackle abuse, ageism, and structural neglect; and ring-fenced, multi-year funding to expand the UK’s critically under-resourced support services for older victims.

He added: “The Covid-19 Inquiry as a whole is a vital opportunity to shine a light on what went wrong and why. But it’s also the moment to commit to doing better.

“Today’s roundtable should highlight that older people must no longer be an afterthought in crisis planning. Their safety, rights and dignity must be central to how we prepare for the future.”
 
The roundtable is chaired by Kate Eisenstein, Director of Policy, Research and Legal at the Inquiry, and includes representatives from national and specialist organisations across the domestic abuse, justice, and safeguarding sectors.
 
The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to donate by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.