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ABSTRACT
Human rights and the laws that protect them provide the framework for a civilised society. The present paper will examine the experience of older people in a rapidly changing modern world, a world in which opportunity to grow old is afforded to more people but one in which doing so positively and in accordance with their human rights is not assured. Taking Scotland as its focus, but mindful of wider experiences, the paper will look firstly at the notion of human rights, global demographic change and the challenges facing the realisation of human rights amongst older people in the UK. Next, using Scotland as a case study, the paper will explore the philosophy, policy and practice that shape the experience of growing old in an advanced western society. Finally, the paper will reflect upon ways of overcoming injustice and social exclusion amongst older people, pointing the way towards a more civilised society where older people are assured of their human rights. The latter will involve a human rights-based approach to working with older people, informed by applying the PANEL principles of ‘participation’, ‘accountability’, ‘ non-discrimination’, ‘empowerment’ and ‘legality’.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
John G. Love is a retired Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
Rory Lynch is a retired lecturer in Social Work, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
Notes
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9 Ibid.
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14 Ibid.
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24 Ibid.
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48 Ibid.
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84 Donald et al., Human Rights in Britain.
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86 Scottish Government, Reshaping Care for Older People.
87 Scottish Government, Changing Lives Agenda.
88 Francis et al., Reablement.
89 Scottish Human Rights Commission, Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights 2013–2017.