Strategy for Older People in Wales

I am pleased to provide this statement about the Strategy for Older People in Wales, now that it is two years since it was first launched.  
 
The context of this strategy – the first of its kind in the UK – is that Wales has a higher concentration of older people than the rest of the United Kingdom.

Over the next 20 years or so the numbers of people over 60 in Wales will increase to nearly one-third of the population, whilst the numbers over 85 will increase significantly.

A key aspect of the Strategy is that it is evidence based, using the research available on the lives of older people.  
An Advisory Group, which I chaired, reported in 2002.  Its report ‘When I’m 64….and more’ helped shape the Strategy

The Assembly Government undertook extensive consultation on the Strategy and ensured as wide a range of views as possible was heard.

The Strategy was launched in January 2003 and provides a structured basis for the Assembly and other public bodies in Wales to develop future policies and plans which better reflect the needs of older people and recognise the changing demography and social circumstances.

One of its key principles is that we must move away from a model that sees old age as a problem and a burden to a model of encouragement and citizenship for all older people.  

Through the Strategy we must also address age stereotyping and age discrimination and promote positive images of ageing.

The Strategy and its structured implementation programme is helping to ensure that in Wales, we are proactive in planning for an ageing population and that policies better meet the needs of older people.

An important feature of this Strategy is that it has citizenship for older people at its heart, including measures to improve engagement and participation of older people in society.
It is a Strategy for all older people in Wales and provides a basis for healthy, active and successful ageing.

This Strategy is making good progress with a firm foundation in place across Wales.  Some of the key aspects are:

• John Griffiths appointment in July 2003 as Deputy Minister with specific responsibility for older people

• The new Assembly Cabinet Sub Committee on the needs of older people ensures a cross- cutting and coherent approach.

A National Partnership Forum for Older People has been established to provide a focus for debate about ageing and a source of expert advice to the Assembly.  It met for the first time in January 2005 and is due to meet again in April.

A Manifesto commitment has been made by the Assembly Government to establish an Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.  The UK Government has announced that a Wales-only Scrutiny Bill to introduce Primary Legislation for a Commissioner would be introduced into Parliament in 2005.

A large majority of local authorities are making good progress in implementation of the Strategy, engaging more effectively with older people.  
All have Strategy Coordinators and nearly all have Champions at the political level.  

All Councils are putting in place effective structures to support implementation - through Strategy Development Plans; setting up local Forums for Older People, establishing Older People Partnership Groups as part of their planning arrangements.

The Voluntary Sector, through Age Alliance Wales, has also made excellent progress.

With nearly £1m to March 2007 to support their input into Strategy implementation, Age Alliance has established a co-ordination and development unit.

They have already taken forward some very practical and worthwhile projects.
Intergenerational Practice (IP) forms an important and exciting part of the Strategy agenda.  

The Beth Johnson Foundation is being funded to develop and implement a strategy for inter-generational practice in Wales. A new IP Centre has already been established.

Our Free Bus Travel policy for over 60s and the disabled has been very successful.  Assembly funded Free Swimming for people 60+ has also been commended on a pilot basis by all authorities in Wales from November 2004.
I should like to outline some of the new policies from the Strategy that are being developed:

Work is well advanced to develop a National Service Framework for Older People in Wales to achieve consistency in the availability and quality of health and social care for older people.  Consultation will commence in the summer.

A Health Promotion Action Plan for Older People has been developed and consultation completed.  It is intended to provide guidance for use at local level on key evidence based health promotion interventions with older people.  It will be published in the spring.

The Strategy includes measures to tackle poverty and social exclusion of older people.

In addition to action underway with Communities First, we are looking to improve access to and information on services for older people through the development of integrated “one stop” services that help to maximise incomes and pensions and increase benefit take-up.  

The Department of Work and Pensions and Assembly Government will commence consultation by summer about how we might best implement this initiative, called Link-Age, to meet the needs of Wales.

We have today announced the distribution of Strategy funds for 2005/06.  £2.4 million will go to local authorities and the balance of the £3 million for the voluntary sector (Age Alliance and Wales) and for central projects.  

This is another important step in implementing this 10-year framework of action.

The Strategy is being strongly led by the Welsh Assembly Government but it is being driven from a local approach to implementation through local government.  

There is much yet to do but we have a Strategy to be proud of and it has already gained both a national and international reputation for best practice.  

It has been warmly welcomed by older people and their representatives.  
Overall therefore, the implementation of the Strategy has got off to a good start and promises much for the future.

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