Older People’s Commissioner for Wales publishes new three-year strategy
The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has published her three-year strategy, setting out her priorities and the action she will take to help to make Wales the best place in the world to grow older.
The Commissioner and her team will focus on action to end ageism and discrimination, stop the abuse of older people and enable everyone to age well, and will deliver a wide range of work against each of these key priorities.
Alongside this, the Commissioner will also continue to work with a wide range of partners to influence policy and practice at both a national and a local level; monitor and scrutinise the work of public bodies and hold them to account when necessary; identify, celebrate and promote good practice; engage with older people in all their diversity; and provide help and support to older people through her casework service.
The Commissioner’s strategy – Making Wales the best place in the world to grow older – was developed following extensive engagement and consultation with older people and stakeholders throughout Wales, who shared their experiences, views and ideas about the change needed to improve older people’s lives and the ways in which this could be delivered.
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE (pictured), said: “I am pleased, following extensive engagement with older people and stakeholders throughout Wales, to be publishing my strategy, which sets out the priorities my work will be focused on and the action I will take over the next three years to help to make Wales the best place in the world to grow older.
“Wales has much to be proud of in terms of its work to improve the lives of older people and many of the older people I have met and spoken with have told me that growing older has been a positive experience.
“But this is not the case for everyone, particularly those who are most vulnerable, and much more needs to be done so that all older people can have the best possible quality of life, remain active and engaged, access the services and support they may need, and do the things that matter to them.
“As Commissioner, I have a unique role to play in taking forward the priorities set out in my strategy, and I will deliver a wide range of work against each of them. But I will also be working to encourage others to take these issues on and work together to deliver the changes that are needed, which will only be achieved by a concerted and consistent effort across society.”
Alongside her strategy, the Commissioner has also published her 2019-20 work programme, which provides further information about the action she will take and the work she will deliver in the year ahead.
