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Title: TO ADD LIFE TO THEIR YEARS

Reference number: 6956

Date: 1985

Sponsor: Scottish Health Education Group

Production company: Scottish Community Education Council

Sound: sound

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 6.00 mins

Description: Made by the Scottish Community Education Council, this video highlights the need for voluntary and statutory organisations to enable older people of retirement age to contribute their knowledge and experience to their community and make the most of the time they have.

Please note: The video is made up only of still images.

Credits: Edinburgh 1985

Shotlist: [shotlisted from VHS - manual control track]

title (00:0:12) gvs stills of older people at work and play . Commentary: one in five of scotland's people are pensioners, more and more over the age of 50 are not in paid work. This presents a social and educational challenge but also presents a powerful political reality (00:00:53) stills and commentary on representative selection of elderly peopl: Jim Scott, 61 and recently widowed. He retired a year ago from a job in engineering. Mary Jones, 55 with family of 7. She had given up work to look after elderly mother who had subseqently died. Arthur Wilson, 68. Worked his way through the ranks from office boy to become office manager. Recently retired with 50 years service. Many childre4n and grandchildren, some far afield in Australia and England. Jim, Arthur and Mary are faced with 'empty days of over 50s' , early retirement or unemployed/. They have time on their hands - How will they use it? (00:03:13) stills showing they have skills built up over a lifetime (00:03:44) stills showing how older people can become a strong voice in the community, demonstration of 'Hands off our Post Office' initiative and action. Mary shown working with 'Wholefood Co-operative' project which started out as a lunch club. Elderly forums, not talking shops. For Jim, it is an active lobby which gets things done. Young people working with older people - recording some games of childhood and introducing these to younger generation. Positive and active contributions that older people make to the community in which they live. still of radio station. (00:05:03) gvs information leaflets available to older generation. The alternative to this active involvement is a loss of independence and a dependence on services. Provision of help enabling older people to help themselves. Message at end of programme is that voluntary and statutory organisations working in community must provide these opportunities, unlock experience and co-ordinate this rich seam of knowledge and experience. "What are you doing to add life to their years?" 50+ the age of opportunity (00:05:54) ecs (00:06:00)