For the Living well in Later Life conference we invited our friends from the Scottish Older People’s Assembly (SOPA) to talk to us about the issues facing older people in Scotland during Plenary session two – Celebrating later life.

What ensued was a lively conversation with Rob Snodgrass, Val Bissland, Tom Burney and Helen Biggins. Each question asked was answered fully and frankly by the panel leaving us with no doubt as to the strong voice SOPA provides to the health and social care conversation in Scotland.

Throughout the session Anne Gallagher shared two poems she’d written for the occasion with us and Rob, Val, Tom and Helen all spoke to camera to answer the question – What are the biggest challenges facing older people? Watch the video of their responses here.

We are very grateful to SOPA for being involved in the event.

SOPA exists to give a strong voice to older people about their concerns and experience of life in Scotland, and also raises issues about inequalities of age.

We also asked SOPA what was important to them in shaping care for older people, watch the video below to reveal their answers.