THEY make up 17% of Scotland's population, and are set to increase by almost 60% in the next 20 years.

The over 65s are a growing part of Scotland's landscape and a critical per-centage of the voting population in the country.

In Glasgow, the issues at the forefront of many older people's minds are not so much concern for themselves but for the younger generation.

At the Temple Elderly Group's day centre, five ladies aged between 75 and 90 shared their thoughts on the referendum.

All members of the group thought their views had not been represented by the Yes or Better Together campaigns, and felt a lot of the issues were irrelevant to them.

The oldest member of the group, 90-year-old Rena Gentles was the only one opting for an independent Scotland.

Rena said: "I wonder where we are going. I don't know why we have been attached to the tail end of England - we should be independent. We have good people if they are given the chance."

Her friend Rosemary Biggins disagreed and felt she was "too old" for the decision to affect her.

The 75-year-old said: "I don't see any benefit in it at all. All I can see is disaster.

"I've got relatives in England and I don't like to think of them as being foreigners."

Many of the women were concerned about the opportunities for the next generation.

Helen Nisbet, 84, said: "Each year is getting harder for the young ones to get work.

"I also think the people with disabilities like myself, it would definitely be harder for them."

With over 65s living longer than ever, the cost and ability to provide healthcare was another issue of concern.

A row over the future of the healthcare system has erupted with SNP arguing that NHS Scotland is at risk of privatisation, and should be combated by free healthcare being written into the constitution.

Labour say Mr Salmond and the SNP are "lying" and only the Scottish Govern-ment could privatise the NHS in Scotland.

May Burchill, 83, thought the leap to independence was a "big step to take".

She said: "Especially if the oil they are talking about does not last. It won't last forever.

"I don't think it's a good idea to split up because once they start, who's next?"

Sarah Campbell, 79, agreed and said Scotland was "too small" to be on its own.

Currency was another hot topic which has been a point of debate with many voters.

The women all remember decimal-isation in 1971, and said at the time it wasn't a big problem.

May said: "I think the currency question hasn't been answered.

"In England they used to charge us if you had a Scottish pound note."

Rosemary said some people may have been more affected by decimalisation than her.

She added: "It didn't bother me at the time but I daresay it might have bothered others."

Sheena Glass, head of Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association, said for many senior citizens the most important concerns were about being "kept up to date with legislation accompanied by an explanation".

She said: "Govern-ments should remem-ber they [the elderly] are loyal.

"They should make them feel wanted, important. The wealth of knowledge they have should be used by the younger generation."

hannah.rodger@ eveningtimes.co.uk