Have you known people, older ones, who were scapegoated?

First, what the #$^%$ are you talking about? Second, please check the definition of "scapegoat." The scapegoat was a real goat, upon whom the symbolic sins of the community were laid, and then the goat turned out into the wilderness to banish the sins. One is a scapegoat when they take the blame for something not their fault.