New Commissioner sets out her vision as the independent voice and champion for older people across Wales

The new Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, has set out her vision for a Wales that leads the way in empowering older people, tackling inequality and enabling everyone to live and age well.

Taking up post today (30 September), the new Commissioner has said she is looking forward to travelling across Wales to hear directly from older people about their experiences of growing older and how the issues affecting their lives can be tackled to deliver change and improvements.

Publishing a statement on her website, new Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said:

“It is an honour and a privilege to serve as the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales. This independent role is unique in its purpose to promote and champion the rights of older people and as Commissioner I will listen to what’s important and ensure their voices and experiences are integral to bringing about positive change.

“The quality of our lives as we grow older is influenced by a range of factors such as our health, housing and income, as well as where we live and the types of support, services and community networks accessible to us.

“So I’m keen to meet and hear from older people in all parts of Wales to understand the range of challenges they face in their day to day lives and to hear how they feel things could be done differently to enable and support them to live and age well.”

The Commissioner will begin this work by visiting communities across Gwynedd and Powys during her first week in post to speak with older people about the things that make a positive difference to their lives, as well as their concerns, which will support her as she develops her work programme. She is also developing plans for a large scale consultation with older people, inviting them to share their views and ideas about the key areas of work she should prioritise.

In her statement, the Commissioner also said she recognises the significant challenges facing older people in Wales as she takes up post, particularly in light of the Government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments, the rising energy cap and the potential implications of the upcoming autumn budget.

Highlighting the impact of these issues, the Commissioner said:

“These issues, combined with pressures on public services and wider issues such as digital exclusion, loneliness and social isolation are resulting in multiple disadvantages for older people making it increasingly difficult to access the vital services and support they need.

“I do not underestimate the gravity of these issues, and from the outset, I will be the strong voice of older people, ensuring that their experiences and concerns are brought directly to decision and policymakers.

“I’m ambitious to establish common agendas, share learning, promote good practice and to support change that will make a difference to the lives of older people both now and in the future.

“But my team and I will also scrutinise a wide range of policy and practice that impacts upon older people’s quality of life, and I will not hesitate to hold organisations and individuals to account where this will deliver the best outcomes for older people.”

The new Commissioner will draw on a wide range of knowledge and experience within her role, having begun her career as a police officer, before taking on senior leadership roles in the third sector, including Chief Executive of Calan DVS, and being appointed Wales’ first National Adviser for tackling Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence in 2015.

Most recently, she has been recognised as an expert Chair of Domestic Homicide Reviews involving older people, in addition to undertaking a wide range of research and projects on behalf of key organisations and public bodies.

The Commissioner added:

“Working with and on behalf of older people I look forward to making a positive contribution; safeguarding rights and challenging discrimination.

“Together we will ensure that older people’s voices are heard at a local and national level, which will be crucial to create a Wales that leads the way in empowering older people, tackling inequality and enabling everyone to live and age well.”

ENDS