Older People's Commissioner

The Commissioner is a champion for older people, in the same way that the Children's Commissioner has been for children and young people.

Older people deserve a stronger voice about the services they receive and the needs they have. The role of the Commissioner is to ensure that the interests of people aged 60 and over in Wales are safeguarded and promoted.

The Commissioner, as an ambassador and authority on older people’s issues, will speak up on behalf of older people. Perhaps most importantly, the Commissioner works to ensure that older people themselves can influence the way in which important public services are managed and delivered in Wales.

The Commissioner is a source of information, advocacy and support for older people in Wales and their representatives. As well as looking at the interests of older people as a whole, she can also look at:

• the cases of individual older people in certain circumstances, such as where the case raises issues that may have a wider impact on older people;
• the effect that public bodies, such as the Welsh Government, Local Government and the NHS, have on older people. She may publish reports, making recommendations for change;
• the providers of regulated services across Wales, issuing guidance on best practice to ensure that they safeguard and promote the interests of older people. She may also help individuals to make a complaint about the services provided;
• the way in which a local authority or health body implements the policies and procedures that it has put in place for dealing with elder abuse. If these are not being carried out effectively, she can hold authorities to account.

The Commissioner has been appointed for a term of 4 years, renewable once.

Website: Older People's Commissioner for Wales (external link)