The Strategy for Older People in Wales

The introduction of the Strategy for Older People in 2003 was a landmark in Wales and received international recognition for its vision and scope. Much of its success has depended on its main deliver in Wales – local government. This short booklet provides an introduction to a small snapshot of projects which demonstrate the tremendous range of work that all local authorities in Wales have undertaken to implement the aspirations of the Strategy. It will also show how these have been tailored to meet the local needs of older people.

Funding has been used by local government to equip a new generation with a whole range of skills and utilise their experience from designing sculpture and film-makers to learning tutors and policy advisors. And what’s unique about this generation…they are all over 50.

The overall proportion of older people is increasing across the United Kingdom, however, this demographic trend is even more pronounced in Wales. People over 50 in Wales currently account for 35.9% of the total population, whilst those over 60 constitute 22.7%.

The Strategy for Older People in Wales is the main policy driver for work on older people in Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government published the ten-year action plan in 2003, to deal with the things that matter most in the lives of older people in Wales. Local authorities, the voluntary sector and older people themselves are all involved in the strategy to improve quality of life. In the first five years (2003- 2008), the primary aims of the Strategy were to increase awareness of older people’s concerns and to establish processes and structures that will help to sustain long term action. This was directed towards changing images of older people and engaging them in the development of initiatives with respect to social inclusion, strong communities and material well being so that they influence local and national policy and service development. In all these ways, the Strategy contributes to the health, well being and independence of older people.

The second phase of the Strategy was launched by the Deputy Minister for Social

Services, Gwenda Thomas AM in March 2008. This phase will focus on a range of key strategic areas including continuing to improve the health and well-being of older people and ways of enabling them to stay independent and active for longer.

The Strategy is focused around four themes which local Older Peoples Partnerships are tackled with devising locally sensitive plans to achieve.

The first theme is Valuing Older People – Maintaining and Development Engagement which seeks to promote positive images of ageing and ensure that the over 50s are able to participate as fully as they wish in their communities, giving them a stronger sense of engagement and influence.

The second theme of the Strategy is Changing Society – the Economic Status and Contribution of Older People. The strategic aim of this is to develop policies to increase the capacity of the over 50s to continue to work, learn, volunteer and care, making an active contribution for as long as they wish, and ensure that older people do not live in poverty.

The third theme of the Strategy is Wellbeing and Independence including improving the health and well being of older people through initiatives to promote health, as well as high quality, responsive and appropriately regulated health, social care and housing services. These will enable older people to live as actively and independently as possible in a suitable and safe environment of their choice.

The fourth theme of the Strategy is Making it Happen – the Implementation of the Strategy which is about implementing the Strategy for Older People in Wales with support funding to ensure that it continues to be a catalyst for change and innovation across all sectors, improving services for older people, providing the basis for effective planning for an ageing population and reflecting the concerns of older people.

In Bridgend, we have a Strategy for Older People Coordinators who develop and implement the Strategy at the local level. Elected member champions also play a crucial role in representing the concerns of older people across authorities. Bridgend, unlike any other area across Wales and a Champion based in the Local Authority, Local Health Board and trust. As well as those represented in our forums.

Significant work has taken place but there is much to do to achieve the wider aim of embedding older people’s issues in all the work that we do. The key aim of challenging stereotypes of all older people as frail, isolated and grumpy will only be tackled by taking sustained action by all tiers of local partnerships in the future.

In 2009, we will be supporting a variety of projects which can be seen below.

Independent Advocacy project for older people to ensure older people – irrespective of physical or mental disability will have access to advice, support and encouragement that will allow them to express their needs, wishes and exercise their rights. This project is being hosted by Age Concern Morgannwg and can be reached on 01656 669288 or emailed on advocacy.bridgend@acmorgannwg.org.uk

SHOUT forum development officer – to sustain and promote the further engagement and participation of older people in all aspects that affect them in the future. SHOUT seek to be the representative voice of the older community across the borough and hope to speak out on the issues that affect older people on a day to day basis. You can contact SHOUT on 01656 810400 or email mowilliams@bavo.org.uk

Older Persons Gardening Maintenance Service. The project reflects increasing housing options and support to older people, promote the independence of older people and support families and carers. This project is a continuation of a short pilot in 2008 which saw a successful local cost gardening service delivered through the agencies successful handyman person’s service. It aims to provide a preventative measure to support older people to remain independent in their homes and specifically looks to target those who live alone, suffer chronic ill health and are home owners. The project will be tailored to meet the seasonal demand of work and will be filled, during quiet periods, with other services such as painting and decorating and minor home repairs. For access to support contact 01656 648417 or email Rena.Sweeney@bridgendcareandrepair.co.uk

Olympic Games for Older People -. Care homes which will include nursing homes, residential homes, sheltered accommodation and day centres will be invited to attend and take part in various activities suitable for the older person. Care homes will be encouraged to practice for the ‘games’ a few months beforehand as part of their regular activity sessions. The care homes will be asked to provide teams of 6 (there can be more than one team from each home or different homes can join up to make up a team) to take part in six activities which will include target games, a seated relay match, jacks and marbles and a memory game. Aimed at providing a social opportunity for harder to reach individuals and introduce health by stealth so that older people naturally expect gentle exercise as part of daily routine. For more information contact 01656 754465 or email Catherine.webb@nphs.wales.nhs.uk

Voluntary sector network – to resource the set up of a voluntary sector network for service providers to help the current engaged representatives become representatives of their sector. For more information contact bavo@bavo.org.uk or phone 01656 810400

This has all been made possible by the Never Too Old Action Team funding provided through the Strategy for Older People in Wales, Independence and Well being Grant and Local Health Board.

If you wish find out more about The Strategy for Older People in Wales click here.

If you wish to find out more about Health Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy please click here.

Alternatively please refer to the Healthy Ageing in Bridgend Booklet that can be found here.