Welcome to Hourglass Scotland

Hourglass is the only charity dedicated to calling time on the harm, abuse and exploitation of older people across the United Kingdom. With more than 25 years’ experience and expertise, our mission is to listen, advise and support vulnerable older people and all those affected throughout the UK.

Every year, more than a million older people are physically, psychologically, financially, or sexually abused, or neglected in the UK. That’s one in six older people who are victims of abuse.

This is a truly damning indictment of how our society views and values older people. Sadly, the abuse of older people is not a new issue, but one that has now reached a critical threshold that can no longer be ignored, nor tolerated.

Hourglass in Scotland:

• Hourglass will continue to be a major collaborator with the Scottish Government to push forward legislative change to enable safer ageing. 

• We will seek the expansion of The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 to include domestic relationships beyond partner or ex-partner.

• We will campaign for new statutory protections, codifying an aggravation based on vulnerability, to achieve greater prevention of crimes against older people, and protection of victims of said crimes.

Hourglass has been successful in working closely with all major political parties in Scotland on policy and campaigning with all leaders signing up to support our pledge to end the abuse of older people.

Previously Action on Elder Abuse, Hourglass is proud to represent older people across the United Kingdom by combining our experience and expertise across the four countries.

  Find out about our Helpline

  Find out about our Scottish Community Hub

  Find out about our online Knowledge Bank

  Read our manifesto here