International Day of Older Persons 2026: The Power of Community and Connections
Every year on the International Day of Older Persons (1 October), I am proud to join organisations, groups and individuals across the world in celebrating growing older and the huge contribution older people make to our lives, community and society, which is worth billions here in Wales alone.
The day also provides a platform to examine how services and support for older people could be improved and this year there is a particular focus on the crucial role our communities play in enabling us to live and age well.
This is something older people often discuss with me at engagement events across Wales, describing the importance of places they live in supporting them to be healthy, independent and able do the things that matter to them.
And this also comes through really strongly in a new video I’ve launched this week, which features contributions from 26 older people living across Wales.
WATCH GROWING OLDER IN WALES: OLDER PEOPLE’S VOICES
Alongside talking about the things they do to stay happy and healthy, and what they appreciate about growing older, the people we interviewed also spoke about the ways their communities support and empower them.
People spoke about the benefits they get from having opportunities to socialise, participate in groups and activities or get involved in volunteering. People also spoke about how the local environment and outdoor spaces enable them to get out and about and make new connections.
These are key characteristics of age-friendly communities, and highlight why further work to ensure the places people live support health, independence and participation is crucial.
The International Day of Older Persons also provides opportunities to challenge assumptions and stereotypes about older age, which is often portrayed as something to be feared, as a time of inevitable frailty and decline.
Growing older can bring challenges, of course, but as reflected by older people in the video, older age is often a very fulfilling, rewarding stage of life that offers new freedom and opportunities.
If you watch the video, you won’t see people living in fear of growing older, or worried about ‘decline’. Instead, you’ll see people continuing to learn, contribute, connect with others and enjoy new experiences.
We should not ignore the difficulties that older age can bring, or the issues that prevent people from living and ageing well. But it’s also important to celebrate the positive aspects of later life that many older people experience and challenge outdated assumptions that too often influence how society thinks and talks about ageing.
We must recognise that growing older is a natural part of life that should be valued, supported and celebrated – not just on 1 October, but every single day.
WATCH GROWING OLDER IN WALES: OLDER PEOPLE’S VOICES
