Capturing the voices and experiences of older people across Wales
Hearing directly from older people about the things that matter to them and the issues affecting their lives is a key part of my role as Commissioner, and since I took up post at the end of last year, I’ve travelled throughout Wales to meet and speak with hundreds of older people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities.
My recent engagement has been focused on hearing older people’s views and ideas about the action I should take to deliver positive change as part of my Have Your Say consultation, which will help to shape my upcoming Strategy and Work Plan.
I’ve met some wonderful older people on my travels and have had some really helpful conversations, so I wanted to share a snapshot of the kinds of issues being raised with me and highlight good practice that is making a positive difference to people’s lives.
Rhian
Bedlinog and Trelewis Warm Hub
My first Have Your Say engagement visit was to the Bedlinog and Trelewis Warm Hub, which is held at the Community Centre in Bedlinog each Thursday.
The Hub provides a warm, welcoming space that offers free hot and cold drinks and snacks, as well as newspapers, board games and WiFi. The Hub also provides ‘warm packs’, which include things like blankets and hot water bottles to help people keep warm at home.
I spoke to around 25 older people during the visit, who highlighted difficulties accessing transport, relying on a minibus to bring them to the Hub and take them home, as well as difficulties accessing information and services as more and more is done online.
But they also told me about the huge difference the Hub had made to their lives and that they were really pleased that it had brought members of the communities of Bedlinog, Trelewis and Treharris closer together.
Cwrt yr Orsaf Extra Care Housing, Pontypridd
I met with over 30 older people living at the Cwrt yr Orsaf Extra Care Housing Scheme in Pontypridd, which supports residents to live as independently as possible.
The scheme, close to the town centre and Ynysangharad Park, offers a wide range of facilities – including a restaurant (open to the public), hair salon, spa room and a cinema, as well as a day centre.
The older people I spoke with told me that remaining part of the wider community was really important to them, and that the support provided to get out and about and do the things that matter greatly benefited their health and well-being.
Powys Older People’s Forum ‘Have your say’ event
I joined around 20 older people for a weekly coffee morning at the Miners Welfare Hall, which is organised the Ystradgynlais Senior Citizens Club.
A number of the people I spoke with highlighted issues relating to health services, including difficulties booking appointments, long waiting times and issues accessing digital information and services.
Limited public transport was also highlighted as an issue and older people told me that the local voluntary community car service was hugely important to enable them to get to the places they need to go.
The older people I met with also talked about the importance of community spaces, like the Welfare Hall and local libraries, where they can meet up with friends and socialise, as well as pick up local information and find out more about other local services and support.
Barry Veterans’ Group, Vale of Glamorgan
I visited Barry to meet with members of the local Veteran’s Group at their Saturday morning breakfast club, who told me the friendship and support they provide to each other is hugely important.
The group, which supports military veterans in and around the Vale of Glamorgan, also arranges monthly social evenings and day trips as well as the weekly breakfast club, which means members have always got something to look forward to.
Specific issues raised with me included ensuring that people who served in the Forces can access the NHS Veterans Pathway, which can provide enhanced care and support, and the impact of delayed hospital discharges on people’s independence and wellbeing.
Birchgrove Welcome Hub, Cardiff
I met with around 20 older people at the Birchgrove Welcome Space in Cardiff, a warm space where people can go for a cuppa, meet up with their friends, pick up information and connect with local services.
Many of the older people I spoke with told me that they were concerned about how loneliness might affect them as they get older, which is why community spaces like the Hub are so important.
People at the Hub also told me they also had concerns about whether they would be able to access the care and support to help them maintain their independence if their needs were to change, and what the potential costs of this might be.
Bonymaen House, Swansea
A visit to Swansea provided an opportunity to meet with older people at Bonymaen House, an innovative residential care scheme focused on reablement to get people home more quickly following a stay in hospital, or prevent someone from needing to be admitted to hospital if their needs change.
The team at Bonymaen House has reconfigured a ‘traditional’ care home to include facilities such as a reablement kitchen, exercise area, social space and even a hairdresser.
The older people I spoke with were full of praise for the support provided by the home, which is based on a ‘do with’ rather than a ‘do for’ approach – individuals determine the outcomes they want to achieve and the team support them to achieve these.
Widdershins Centre, Torfaen
I met with around 30 older people at the Widdershins Centre in Torfaen, joining an activities group for people living with dementia (and their carers) before speaking with older people at the on-site Bistro.
The Centre, a community Hub run by Age Connects Torfaen, provides activities, support and information for older people, offering services including befriending, advice on health and financial entitlements, a nail-cutting service and social activities.
Key issues highlighted by the older people I spoke with included limited public transport options, difficulties accessing health services – particularly GPs – and barriers due to digital exclusion.
Older people also told me they really valued the activities, services and support provided at the centre, which are hugely important to help them stay connected to their friends and community, and to help them maintain their independence.
Osteoporosis Support Group, Merthyr
During a visit to Merthyr, I met with 50 members of the Osteoporosis Support Group, which meets weekly at Rhydycar Bowls Club and welcomes members from Merthyr, RCT and Powys.
The group provides members with the chance to meet other people in the area with similar experiences, get information and support, and ask questions about osteoporosis treatment and care.
It was great to see the positive impact the group makes to the lives of its members and the support and friendship they provide to one another, which everyone clearly values a great deal.
The group told me that access to transport is a key issue, particularly transport to hospital appointments, as well as hospital parking. Alongside this, they highlighted concerns about the impact of the loss of key services and facilities in town centres, such as local bank branches and public toilets, as well as the impact of digital exclusion and the shift towards the provision of digital services, with frustrations shared about how everyday things like parking the car can no longer be done without a smartphone.
Addison House, Cardiff
I met with 10 older people living in Addison House, a newly opened extra care housing scheme, which is part of a wider complex providing housing to people of all ages.
Residents told me that they valued the support provided to enable them to live as independently as possible and the fact that their homes could be easily adapted should their needs change.
They also told me that the communal facilities such as lounges, roof terrace and gardens also helped them to make new friends and meet new people, important to prevent loneliness and isolation.
Old Vicarage Care Home, Llangollen
I met with residents at the Old Vicarage Care Home, which provides a mixture of residential and nursing care, including care for people living with dementia.
The older people I spoke with told me that the focus on their individual needs – rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach – made them feel save and valued.
They also said that the wide range of activities in the home gave them something to look forward to every day, which was really important for their quality of life.
Severn View Care Home, Monmouthshire
From the old (vicarage) to the new, I visited the state of the art Severn View Care Home in Monmouthshire, which provides care and support to people living with dementia.
The care delivered at the home is focused on enabling the people who live there to ‘live a life that matters to them’ and maintain connections to the wider community.
Severn View, which houses 32 people, is centred around a ‘village hall’ which holds a range of events and activities, with gardens and allotments creating shared spaces for everyone to enjoy, important to help residents feel included and maintain a sense of personal identity.
Newport 50+ Forum
One of my first visits when I took up post was to meet members of the Newport 50+ Forum at an event for the Internation Day of Older Persons, so it was great to be back and to meet with and hear from members again.
I spoke with 25 older people who raised concerns about a lack of local buses and difficulties accessing information about services due to information increasingly only being available online.
We also discussed the impact of the loss of services in communities, such as banks, and members told me they feel that their voices are not heard when changes to services are proposed.
Rainbow Foundation Centres, Wrexham
I visited the villages of Penley and Marchwiel in Wrexham to meet with over 40 older people at the local Rainbow Foundation Centres to see first-hand how the activities on offer are supporting them to age well.
The centres offer a range of activities focused on improving the health and well-being of local communities, including cooking classes, arts and crafts sessions, lunch and brunch clubs, and walking groups. They also deliver ‘Active Futures’ exercise classes, supporting older people to improve their strength and balance following a referral from their GP.
Denbighshire Dementia Centre
I joined older people living with dementia, as well as their loved ones and carers for a Sit and Be Fit exercise session at the Denbigh Dementia Centre, which is run by the Carers Trust in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society.
One gentleman I spoke with during the session (whose wife is living with dementia) told me about the positive difference the centre makes to their lives – his wife looks forward to going and laughs and smiles while she’s there.
He also told me about the emotional impact of providing 24/7 care and said that unpaid carers should have information at the point of diagnosis about support is available, something he had initially struggled with.
The visit highlighted the importance of support like this being delivered in locations that older people are familiar with and comfortable attending, with staff that know communities and the local services available.
Swansea Age-friendly Communities Waterfront Walk
The wet Swansea weather didn’t dampen spirits when I visited to learn more about the activities on offer in the city to support people to age well.
I joined older people for the weekly waterfront walk, which is followed by a cuppa at The Swigg in the marina, before joining the Soup and Social group at the Waterfront Museum, which offers older people something to eat as well as social activities.
I met with over 100 older people during my visit and was struck by the energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved. Nobody was left to walk or sit or on their own – there was a real sense of community and a warm welcome for everyone.
The older people I spoke with told me that these groups, and the other activities available, which include movie afternoons, quizzes and other social gatherings, gave them something to look forward to, some structure and purpose, and were really important to help prevent loneliness and social isolation.
Plas Bryn Extra Care Housing, Cardiff
I met with around 17 residents at the Plas Bryn Extra Care Housing Scheme, joined by Councillors and officials representing Cardiff Council.
Our discussions were largely focused on how the local area could be made more age-friendly, with older people highlighting issues with damaged payments and safety issues relating to bus stops, which discouraged them from getting out and about. In addition, people told me they found it difficult to access public transport and that it is important that bus routes go the places that older people want and need to go.
People also highlighted that they often feel that their voices are not heard, and that their views are not considered when decisions are made about changes to services that will affect the local community.
Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Voice, Newport
I joined the Dementia Voice Group in Newport, a mixture of older people living with Dementia and their carers, which meets monthly at St. Julian’s Baptist Church.
Members told me they felt safe, trusted and respected in the group and could bring issues that were worrying them to get the views of (and support from) other members and from representatives from Alzheimer’s Society, which runs the group.
Key concerns raised included difficulties finding information about services and support following a dementia diagnosis, as well as being targeted by scams – one member said shared that they had recently been scammed with criminals using his deceased wife’s mobile phone account.
Members also talked about working with Alzheimer’s Society to give feedback on the design of a music player, which led to an interesting discussion about the importance of music. One gentleman living with dementia told me that music helped to calm him and also brought back specific memories and recollections.
Windrush Elders, Cardiff
At the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, I met with Windrush Elders Cymru to hear about the issues affecting members’ lives.
Access to GPs was a key issue raised, with particular difficulties getting an appointment as a result of the ‘8am rush’. Access to NHS dentistry was also raised, as well as inconsistencies in terms of getting repeat prescriptions.
We also discussed transport issues, exploring different experiences of accessing public transport in rural areas compared with more urban areas.
Digital exclusion was another key issue raised. For some members (those with digital skills) the shift to digital services was welcomed, particularly for one member with a hearing impairment who couldn’t use phone systems. Other members, however, shared highlighted that this created new challenges in terms of doing everyday things such as parking the car. Members said it was important that there are community-based opportunities so people can learn the digital skills they need.
Swansea Men’s Shed
I joined members of the Victoria Saints Men’s Shed in Swansea, a community space for men to socialise, learn and work on projects.
I met with 15 men at the Shed who highlighted that limited transport and a lack of public toilets often made it more difficult to get out and about.
Other issues raised included the ongoing impact of rising living costs, as well as a lack of suitable housing / accommodation for older people who may wish (or need) to downsize their home.
Dementia Hwb, Port Talbot
At the Dementia Hwb in Port Talbot, I spoke with Dale, an older lady living with dementia, about her experiences.
The Hwb is run by Dementia Swansea and was set up following the success of a similar Hwb in Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre in the city centre.
She told me that the location of the Hwb, which is based in Aberafan Shopping Centre in the heart of Port Talbot, makes it really easy for her to call in to find the information and advice she needs, something she had initially struggled with following her diagnosis and that, more importantly, she was always given a warm welcome by the staff and volunteers whenever she visited.
Abergavenny 50+ Group
I met with over 20 members of the Abergavenny 50+ Group, who spoke with me about some of the challenges they are currently facing.
There was anger about the closure of local hospital services, which now means considerable travel for appointments, an issue that is made more difficult by a lack of transport options, particularly in more rural areas.
Digital exclusion was also highlighted, with members highlighting difficulties due to paper copies of information (such as bus timetables) not being easy to get hold of, and concerns about the digital switchover for phones.
On a more positive note, a number of the people I met with were volunteers and spoke about the positive difference that contributing to their communities is making to their lives.
Narberth Community Garden, Pembrokeshire
I joined volunteers at Cilrath Acre in Narberth, which was established to bring together the community and connect people to the land, nature and locally grown food. Run in partnership with Pembrokeshire Food Bank, all of the produce grown is donated to local foodbanks.
Many of the volunteers I spoke with have moved to Pembrokeshire in retirement and the community garden has enabled them to meet new friends and integrate more fully into the community.
A number of issues were raised by volunteers during the visit, including difficulties accessing GPs and the loss of community based health services. A lack of public transport in the area was also highlighted, as well as limited housing options as people grow older. Food and fuel poverty was also a real concern, with the cost of living continuing to rise.
Bro Preseli Extra Care Scheme
The older people I met with at Bro Preseli told me that being part of the community was really important to them. The scheme is a short distance from the village centre and also offers a day centre services, which means residents have the chance to connect with older people from the local area.
The people I met with also told me that the support available through the scheme enabled them to live independently, something they greatly valued.
A key issue highlighted by residents was increases in the cost of living, which can be a particular challenge when living on a fixed income.