By VIVIENNE NICOLL

A CHARITY which is a lifeline for older people is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a name change.

Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Association was set up in 1948 when people in their 60s were regarded as being old.

Times have changed and the organisation now offers services to city residents most of whom are aged over 70.

But as nobody enjoys being called old, it has changed its name to Glasgow’s Golden Generation.

To further mark the important birthday, a series of events are planned throughout this year.

These include inviting pensioners to take a zip wire off the Titan Crane and to abseil from the Falkirk Wheel.

There will also be a Pro Am golf tournament and events for anyone who also celebrates their 70th birthday this year.

Charity interim chief executive Morag McIntosh said: “We have changed our name to Glasgow’s Golden Generation because nobody wants to be called old or elderly.

“Seventy years ago, people in their 60s were regarded as elderly but the demographic has changed.

“We are doing the same things but the name change reflects much better the people we are seeing now.

“Glasgow’s Golden Generation reflects this wonderful generation that over the past 70 years has made Glasgow what it is today.”

The organisation has day care centres in the north west, East End and south of the city which each day are attended by around 100 people aged from their late 70s to people in their 90s.

It also runs over 100 clubs across the city which meet weekly and cater for over 1000 people.

Ms McIntosh said: “Some of the people who attend the day care centres don’t meet anyone else during the day.

“It is the only contact they have with the outside world apart from seeing the postman pop things through their letter boxes

“Our services are a lifeline because loneliness and isolation in the elderly in Glasgow is a proven fact, which can lead to depression and malnutrition.”

Mini-buses collect people attending the day centre from their homes and the charity offers a befriending service.

Ms McIntosh said: “If someone wants to use our service please pick up the phone and we will pop out to see you in a flash.”