Some adjectives in English can function as collective nouns to refer to groups or categories of people who share the same or similar characteristics. They can also refer to nationalities.
Adjectives used in this way refer to everyone in the group.
For example, 'the poor' means everyone who is poor.
These collective adjectives are preceded by ‘the’ and take a plural verb.

Examples of adjectives that function as nouns:
the poor, the rich, the blind, the deaf, the homeless, the sick, the injured,
the innocent, the elderly, the helpless, the oppressed, the underprivileged,
the strong, the weak, the hardworking ...

PEOPLE:

Many of the poor need food and shelter. (not needs)

The underpriviliged deserve as much respect as anyone else.

The rich are also sometimes lonely.

The tallest were asked to stand at the back for the photo.

The oldest usually take care of the youngest.

The strong generally try to help the weak.

The hungry are given food at a nearby centre.

The elderly need extra care and attention.

The blind are often accompanied by trained dogs.

The deaf have the same rights as other citizens.

The sick are taken care of by a medical team.

The helpless need the support of the community.

NATIONALITIES:
-when the adjective ends in -sh ; -ch, or -ese, we can use that adjective as a noun to designate the citizens of that nation:
the British, the French, the Swedish, the Danish, the Chinese, the Japanese…
-The British are fond of tea.
-The French are renowned for their cooking.

-but all others generally take an ‘s’:
the Italians, Germans, Americans, Canadians, Cypriots, Scots, Omanis…
-The Germans generally arrive on time.
-The Italians make great pizzas.

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See also: repeated adjectives   compound adjectives  and  double-comparatives

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