As I travel across Wales to meet and speak with older people about the things that matter most to them, many have shared with me their concerns that the essential community services they rely upon – such as local buses, public toilets, libraries and day/community centres – are at risk of disappearing as a result of reductions in local government spending.
Many older people tell me that they do not know how to engage with their Local Authority and often feel powerless when proposals are made to reduce or bring to an end essential community services they rely upon, services often described as ‘lifelines’, such as local buses, public toilets and libraries.
Older people also tell me they feel there are insufficient opportunities to express their views and that their concerns are often overlooked and given little attention when they do so.
That is why I have published a new Toolkit for older people, a practical resource to help them to engage with their Local Authorities, make their voices heard and influence and challenge the decisions being made in their communities, decisions that could have a significant impact on their lives.
The Toolkit provides a wide range of practical information to help older people to engage with Local Authorities, including the ways in which they can influence and challenge decisions and the support available to help them to do this.
The Toolkit clearly outlines what older people should expect from their Local Authorities in terms of engagement and consultation when changes to essential services are proposed and highlights how older people can get involved in these processes. It also provides a range of other practical resources, including a set of key questions and checklist for older people to use throughout the engagement process, a sample letter to Local Authorities and a comprehensive directory of contacts who may be able to provide vital help and support.
Alongside the Toolkit, I have also issued formal Guidance to Local Authorities across Wales, using my powers under the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act, to remind them of their duty to ensure full, meaningful and effective engagement and consultation with older people when changes to community services are proposed and key decisions are being made.
The Guidance also outlines the ways in which Local Authorities should be communicating with, working with and listening to older people.
The Toolkit and Guidance were launched at the first of a series of seminars for key Local Authority staff in Cardiff and Llandudno, part of my wider programme of work to protect and improve community services, facilities and infrastructure in Wales.
The well-attended seminars highlighted the importance of community services for older people’s health and wellbeing and the need to ensure that decisions made fully consider and reflect their needs, concerns and priorities.
Protecting community services, facilities and infrastructure is essential as without them a huge number of the groups, clubs and organisations that support older people to be happy, healthy and independent would simply not exist.
During the past month, my team and I have visited many groups like this across Wales, groups that are providing lifelines to older people through providing opportunities to socialise and make friends, giving members a chance to stay fit and active, and to have their say on the issues that matter to them.
On one recent visit, for example, my team met members of the Penarth Ageing Well Club, which was set up with the aim of helping older people to age well through participating in exercises and activities, alleviating loneliness and isolation and keeping members informed on the issues that affect them.
The club was set up less than two years ago and has evolved into a prominent local presence that has given a powerful voice to its 30 members.
The success of the group is illustrated by the variety of the activities its members are now involved in. Recently they gave a Zumba demonstration at a local Summer Fair, sang as part of an inter-generational choir at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff and were used as a focus group by Penarth Town Council, who garnered their strong views on local issues.
On top of the varied programme of activities, group officials rightly recognise that people who are 50+ are true assets to their community, with a wealth of knowledge and experience from a wide range of careers and varied and interesting lives.
My team also spent a day recently in Tumble, West Wales, visiting other similar clubs that really are providing a lifeline to older people living in rural areas who are at risk of becoming lonely and isolated.
In total, 75 older people travel to the weekly Cinio a Chlonc luncheon club and the Cyfle i Bawb groups, playing bingo, having a cooked meal, taking part in exercise and movement and listening to regular speakers.
Group members shared their concerns about cuts to bus routes and the fact that people who don’t drive struggle to get around.
The fact many live in isolated, rural communities makes this club a real lifeline for many older people and the volunteers who run the club and help to transport its members should be commended for their outstanding contribution to their communities.
These volunteers told my team how much the club means to many older people, who feel a real part of the group and could become lonely and isolated without it. Sadly, they also described the challenges they face in gaining funding to transport older people to what is an essential community service.
I understand that difficult decisions on expenditure and savings must be made by Local Authorities, but it is essential that community services are protected or delivered in new and innovative ways so that older people can continue to access them.
Without these essential community services, many older people will struggle to maintain their independence and will instead have to rely on statutory health and social care services, which are often far more costly.
That is why, as Commissioner, I want to ensure that older people across Wales have the knowledge, resources and support to have the strongest voice possible, a voice that is heard, listened to and acted upon, so they can work effectively with their Local Authorities to influence and challenge the decisions that affect their lives.
by Sarah Rochira, Older Peoples’ Commissioner for Wales
For further information about the Engagement Toolkit and the Commissioner’s work, visit www.olderpeoplewales.com
