Significant inequalities preventing people in Wales from living and ageing well, warns Commissioner

Significant inequalities are impacting on the health, well-being and independence of many older people across Wales, creating barriers in their everyday lives and limiting opportunities to live and age well.

That’s the key finding from a new report published today (30 September) by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, marking a year since she took on the role.

The report – Growing older in Wales: A snapshot of older people’s experiences – examines available data and research, tracking trends over time where possible, to provide a snapshot of people’s experiences of growing older across key areas of their lives.

The report finds that while later life is a time of fulfilment and empowerment for many older people, others find themselves facing a range of issues and challenges that put them at greater risk of being left behind or excluded.

This is reflected by a number of findings within the report, including:

• Two-thirds of older people struggle to get a GP appointment
• Levels of dissatisfaction with social care services are higher in Wales compared to other parts of the UK
• Around a third of people aged 75+ have no access to the internet
• Around a third of older people feel unsafe walking or travelling in their local area, or using public transport
• Older people are at greater risk of experiencing some form of abuse than people from other age groups
• Older people face significant discrimination relating to employment
• Older people’s vital contribution as employees, volunteers and care providers – worth billions of pounds a year to the Welsh economy – often goes unrecognised

The report also highlights data that illustrates the ways these kinds of issues are impacting upon people’s health and well-being.

This includes data that shows that people living in Wales’s poorest areas can expect to live in poor health for almost a decade longer than those living in more affluent areas.

Similarly, the report shows that these kinds of issues also seem to be impacting on older people’s mental and emotional health, with nearly a third saying this was something they have struggled with during the past 12 months.

The Commissioner will be sharing the report with the Welsh Government and other key public bodies, highlighting the action needed to respond to the issues identified, and will use the important evidence captured to support her calls for change and improvements.

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said:

“Today marks a year since I took up post as Commissioner, which provides a good opportunity to examine people’s experiences of growing older in Wales, the issues and challenges affecting older people’s lives and the action needed to address these.

“That’s why I’m publishing this report today, which brings together a wide range of data and other research to provide a snapshot of older people’s experiences in key areas of their lives.

“It’s positive that the data within the report shows that many older people feel fulfilled, empowered, and are able to do the things that matter to them.

“Other older people, however, face significant inequalities, leading to issues and challenges that create barriers to living and ageing well. This can affect many areas of people’s lives, including access to services and support, feelings of safety and being treated fairly by society.

“As highlighted by the report, these issues undermine people’s health, well-being and independence, all of which play a key role in our quality of life as we grow older.

“I will be sharing my findings with the Welsh Government and key public bodies, setting out the action that must be taken to tackle the issues I have identified, and calling for the change and improvements older people want and need to see.”

ENDS