Commissioner’s Work Programme

Commissioner’s Work Programme 2026-27

As Older People’s Commissioner for Wales my vision is a Wales that leads the way in empowering older people, tackling inequality and enabling everyone to live and age well.

To make this vision a reality, we need to see progress against a number of key national priorities, focused on ensuring that older people:

• Can access the information, services and support they need
• Feel safe in their relationships, homes and communities
• Are treated fairly, with their contribution recognised and valued
• Can make their voices heard and have choice and control over their lives

Playing my part in supporting progress against these priorities, each year I deliver a robust and responsive work programme, shaped by older people’s voices and experiences, which also reflects my own Strategic Objectives.

Wales leading the way?

It’s true to say that Wales has led the way in terms of policy-making relating to older people in a number of regards, and the establishment of the Commissioner’s role – the first of its kind in the world – is a good example of this.

But more than that, there are examples of policies and legislation, both nationally and locally, that aim to ensure services are person-centred, that people’s voices are heard and their rights are upheld. There are also examples of Wales seeking to do more than the ‘minimum’ that might be mandated at a UK level, with enhanced duties in key areas designed to enable more locally focused solutions.

However, the extent to which these policies and legislation have made a tangible difference to older people’s day-to-day lives may be open to question, based on a range of available evidence and, perhaps even more importantly, firsthand accounts from older people across Wales I have spoken with or who have contacted my Advice and Assistance Service.

Older people’s experiences

Older people often use negative language when describing their experiences (or the experiences of their loved ones), highlighting a range of concerns, issues and challenges. Many older people also tell me they feel there has been a decline in both the accessibility and quality of services, and that they increasingly feel excluded and unheard because of their age.

Experiences like this suggest there are significant, and potentially growing, gaps between the ambitions set out in policy and legislation and the reality of practice on the ground.

This means older people are missing out on services, support and protections that should be available, increasing the risk that they will face challenges or find themselves in crisis, particularly if they are already vulnerable.

Furthermore, these kinds of gaps risk creating deeper inequalities between and amongst different groups within society, while also eroding confidence in public bodies, services and institutions when people’s experiences fall short of what has been promised.

These issues bring significant costs, not only in terms of creating pressures on services that could be avoided, but also in terms of the personal costs people face when failures impact on their health, independence and quality of life.

Closing the gap

Tackling gaps between policy and practice – to ensure that public bodies are fulfilling their duties and older people’s rights are being upheld – must be a priority and is a key focus of my 2026-27 Work Programme. This will include:

• Reviewing the delivery of key services and support for older people
• Influencing policy and practice across Wales and more widely
• Growing knowledge & understanding across the public sector
• Ensuring older people’s voices are heard
• Providing advice and assistance to older people across Wales

Read my work programme and find out more.

Rhian Bowen-Davies // Older People’s Commissioner for Wales