“A Wales where older people are valued, rights are upheld and no-one is left behind."

The summer months have brought with them a bit more hope and optimism, with the wide-scale rollout of the vaccine and the easing of restrictions, which has meant many older people have been able to meet up again with their loved ones, and get out and about again to do the things that matter to them.

But this has not been the case for everyone, and I know that for some older people the past few months has continued to be a time of uncertainty, anxiety and loneliness.

As we move into the next phase of the pandemic, and into what could be another difficult winter for us all, it is crucial that older people can get the support they may need to regain their health and well-being so they can re-engage with and fully participate in their communities.

Alongside this we also need to ensure that older people’s rights are upheld and protected, given the kinds of issues we’ve seen and the difficulties people have faced during the past 18 months.

So as we move forward, my work will continue to have a strong focus on ensuring that older people’s voices are heard and that their experiences guide policy and decisions in both the short and longer term to ensure that no-one is left behind.

Heléna Herklots CBE
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

 

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