NEWSLETTER. Commissioner s. An update from the Older People s Commissioner for Wales. September Inside: Impact and Reach Report

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1 Inside: Commissioner s NEWSLETTER An update from the Older People s Commissioner for Wales September 2014 Impact and Reach Report Update: Care Home Review Declaration of the Rights of Older People Working together for Welsh-speaking older people Engagement Toolkit Spotlight On... CISWO Engagement

2 2 Driving Change for Older People: Impact and Reach Report In June, the Commissioner published Driving Change for Older People, her second impact and reach report, which highlights the action she has taken during to make Wales a good place to grow older. The report launch, which took place in the Senedd, was hosted by the First Minister and was attended by older people from across Wales who the Commissioner has met and spoken with as part of her Engagement Roadshow, as well as stakeholders and politicians. During the launch, older people had the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with the Commissioner, asking her questions about the wide range of work undertaken during the past year and her priorities for the year ahead. Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner said: It s been a privilege to represent older people across Wales as their independent voice and champion and I was delighted to welcome so many of the people I have met and spoken with during the past year to the Senedd to talk with them about the work I have been doing to drive change on their behalf, the change that older people want and need to see. Over the past year, I have provided direct support to hundreds of older people who have found themselves in the most complex and unacceptable situations, working with them to ensure that they are both safe and have their rights upheld. I have also continued to scrutinise and hold public bodies to account and, where necessary, I have not hesitated to use my legal powers to deliver change. There is much positive change underway in Wales to transform the lives of older people and my Impact and Reach report outlines the part I have played in delivering this change. Of course, there is still much more to be done and I look forward to building upon my achievements in and continuing my work as the independent voice and champion for older people to make Wales a good place to grow older. Update: Care Home Review In May, the last of 100 unannounced visits to care homes across Wales was completed, bringing to an end the evidence gathering phase of the Commissioner s Care Home Review, which is looking at the quality of life and care of older people living in residential and nursing care homes across Wales. In addition to the care home visits by the Commissioner s team of Social Care Rapporteurs, made up of social care experts and professionals who work with older people, evidence was also gathered from over 2,000 older people and their families via a detailed questionnaire, as well as from statutory bodies, public and third sector organisations, care home managers and other key stakeholders, who contributed a signifi cant amount of written and oral evidence to the Review. In gathering evidence, the Commissioner focused on a number of themes that can impact upon the lives of older people living in care homes, including day-to-day life, health and wellbeing, care home staff, and commissioning, regulation and inspection systems. The Commissioner and her Review team have undertaken a detailed analysis of all of the evidence received and will publish the Review report in November. The report will include the Commissioner s key fi ndings and conclusions, together with a series of requirements for action for the bodies subject to the review, which include the Welsh Government, Local Authorities, Health Boards and Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW). Following the publication of the report, those subject to the Review will develop action plans to demonstrate what action they will take to comply with the Commissioner s requirements. Once agreed with the Commissioner, these action plans will be implemented to drive the change needed to ensure that older people living in care homes across Wales have the best quality of life. Action plans will be implemented to drive the change needed to ensure that older people living in care homes across Wales have the best quality of life.

3 4 Commissioner Strongly Welcomes Publication of the Declaration of the Rights of Older People Working together for the welfare, rights and dignity of Welsh-speaking older people The Commissioner strongly welcomed the introduction of a Welsh Declaration of the Rights of Older People in July by the Welsh Government, which will protect and enhance the rights of older people across Wales. The fi rst of its kind in the world, the Declaration illustrates older people s rights in a practical way, outlining the ways in which they relate to an individual s day-to-day life. The Declaration can therefore be used by older people themselves to ensure that they are treated fairly and can access the support and services they need to live fulfi lled and independent lives. The Declaration also reminds public services about the rights that older people have and their duties to support and engage effectively with older people across Wales. To ensure that the voices of older people and the things that matter most to them sit at the heart of the Declaration, its development was supported by an advisory group of older people that was chaired by the Commissioner. Using the United Nations Principles for Older Persons as a starting point, the Declaration outlines the things that older people value and the rights that older people feel would support and protect them effectively: I have the right to be who I am I have the right to be valued I have free will and the right to make decisions about my life I have the right to decide where I live, how I live and with whom I live I have the right to work, develop, participate and contribute I have a right to safety, security and justice Welcoming the Welsh Government s announcement about the Declaration and commitment to older people, the Commissioner said: I am absolutely delighted that the Welsh Government has responded to my call to enhance the rights of older people in this way and that Wales is leading the way once again to improve older people s lives. The publication of the Declaration of the Rights of Older People by the Welsh Government not only reaffi rms the commitment we share to promote the interests of older people, but also our commitment to equality and human rights, issues that matter so much to us all. The Older People s Commissioner for Wales and the Welsh Language Commissioner have agreed to work together to promote the welfare, rights and dignity of Welsh-speaking older people. The Commissioners, Sarah Rochira and Meri Huws, signed an agreement to support further joint working and the exchange of information. They have committed themselves to share information about trends, data, policy and initiatives that relate to their shared aim of ensuring that the public are provided with high quality services. They have also agreed to share concerns, direct case referrals and hold joint investigations where applicable. Speaking after the agreement was signed, the Older People s Commissioner said: As I travel across Wales to meet and speak with older people about the things that matter most to them, many share with me the importance of the Welsh language in their lives, particularly when accessing essential health, social care and community services. Ensuring that older people can use their language of choice is not only important to protect their welfare, rights and dignity, but also essential to ensure our public services deliver the best possible outcomes. I look forward to working with Meri to protect and enhance the rights of Welsh-speaking older people across Wales and to drive the change that they want and need to see. The Welsh Language Commissioner, Meri Huws, added: Communicating in a language which a person understands and is comfortable using is an essential part of any service, especially when providing services for older people. Conducting an inquiry into the use of the Welsh language in primary care recently, I heard about the experiences of older people and their families when receiving health care in Wales. The evidence showed that older patients often respond better to assessment and treatment in their own language and that communicating in their fi rst language ensures the dignity of the individual as he or she grows older. Ensuring people s welfare, rights and dignity is central to both my work and the work of the Older People s Commissioner. By signing this agreement we formalise our relationship and commit ourselves to work together for the good of Welsh-speaking older people in Wales.

4 New Toolkit will help older people to make their voices heard The Commissioner launched a new Toolkit in July to help older people to make their voices heard and influence the decisions that affect their lives. The Toolkit provides a wide range of practical information to help older people to engage with Local Authorities, including the ways in which they can influence and challenge decisions and the support available to help them to do this. The Toolkit clearly outlines what older people should expect from their Local Authorities in terms of engagement and consultation when changes to essential services are proposed and highlights how older people can get involved in these processes. It also provides a range of other practical resources, including a set of key questions and checklist for older people to use throughout the engagement process, a sample letter to Local Authorities and a comprehensive directory of contacts who may be able to provide vital help and support. The Commissioner said: Many of the older people I meet and speak with across Wales tell me that they do not know how to engage with their Local Authority and often feel powerless when proposals are made to reduce or bring to an end essential community services they rely upon, services often described as lifelines, such as local buses, public toilets and libraries. Older people also tell me they feel there are insufficient opportunities to express their views and that their concerns are often overlooked and given little attention when they do so. That is why I have published this Toolkit, a practical resource to help older people to make their voices heard and influence and challenge the decisions being made in their communities, decisions that could have a significant impact on their lives. Alongside the Toolkit, the Commissioner has also issued formal Guidance to Local Authorities across Wales, using her powers under the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act, to remind them of their duty to ensure full, meaningful and effective engagement and consultation with older people when changes to community services are proposed and key decisions are being made. The Guidance also outlines the ways in which Local Authorities should be communicating with, working with and listening to older people. The Toolkit and Guidance were launched at the first of a series of seminars for key Local Authority staff in Cardiff and Llandudno, part of the Commissioner s wider programme of work to protect and improve community services, facilities and infrastructure in Wales. The well-attended seminars highlighted the importance of community services for older people s health and wellbeing and the need to ensure that decisions made fully consider and reflect their needs, concerns and priorities. The Commissioner added: I understand that difficult decisions on expenditure and savings must be made by Local Authorities, but it is essential that community services are protected or delivered in new and innovative ways so that older people can continue to access them. Older people s voices must therefore be at the heart of any decisions that will result in changes to these essential services. That s why, as Commissioner, I want to ensure that older people across Wales have the knowledge, resources and support to have the strongest voice possible, a voice that is heard, listened to and acted upon, so they can work effectively with their Local Authorities and influence the decisions that affect their lives. Commissioner s Work Programme The Commissioner has published her work programme for , which outlines the work she will undertake during the coming year to drive change for older people across Wales. Based on the priorities published by the Commissioner in her Framework for Action, the work programme includes a wide range of work on the following: Ageism and Discrimination Human Rights Community Services Safeguarding and Protection Quality of Residential Care (Review) Poverty and Unclaimed Financial Entitlements Carers Dementia To find out more about the Commissioner s work programme, contact us to receive a copy, or visit 6

5 8 Spotlight On: Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) was established over 60 years ago to improve lives in coalfield areas, providing support to miners and their families beyond the colliery gate. And although the pits have now closed, CISWO is still going strong, with 15 groups meeting regularly across South Wales. CISWO provides members with opportunities to socialise and take part in regular excursions, also providing support and advice on a variety of issues. They have a specialist social work team that provides a free and confidential home visiting service, benefits advice and assistance with CISWO was established to provide support beyond the colliery gate applications. Members also take part in a wide range of activities through its social groups, including quizzes, light exercise sessions, sing-a-longs, and bingo and guest speakers. It was as a guest speaker that the Commissioner and her team first came into contact with CISWO and since then they have visited a number of CISWO groups across South Wales, including groups in Newbridge, Resolven and Cwmaman. Following her first meeting with CISWO members in Newbridge, the Commissioner said: While some younger people will have no memories of the coalmines operating across South Wales, for many older people, the pits played a hugely significant role in their lives and their closure had a massive impact. They were often the glue that held communities together, with social clubs, events and excursions for workers and families consolidating the strong bonds that were created among those that worked underground together. Wonderful work by CISWO is helping to fill the voids left in some communities and provide opportunities for older people to remain close and to form new friendships. If you, your wife, husband or partner worked in any department of the coal industry, or if you are a dependent child of a former coal mining employee and would like more information about CISWO s services or social groups, visit or contact Phil Williams on or phil.williams@ ciswo.org.uk. CISWO members can access advice and support, and can take part in a wide range of activities.

6 10 Engagement Highlights Lewis School and Goldies Cymru Intergenerational Choir The Commissioner and her team visited Lewis School, Pengam, in July for a special choir performance that brought together Year seven pupils and older people. The event was organised by the school s Connecting Communities intergenerational club and Goldies Cymru, which organises daytime singing and activities sessions for older people. During the performance, the intergenerational choir sang a number of well-known songs from the last 100 years, including It s a Long Way to Tipperary and Keep the Home Fires Burning, which were popular during the First World War, as well as hits by bands such as The Carpenters and Abba. The event was part of an intergenerational programme called Time after Time, where Goldies Cymru encourages pupils from around Wales to talk, sing and communicate with older people at school-organised events. The aim is to encourage older people who may be socially isolated to get out and enjoy the company of others through music and activities. Llais y Cymuned Project The Commissioner visited Anglesey in May to meet with Veronica Huband, who is helping to give a voice back to people aged 50 or over in Holyhead. In addition to running a successful luncheon club at the Gwelfor Community Centre, which provides its 30 members with opportunities to socialise, take part in activities and access advice and support, Ms Huband also coordinates the Llais y Cymuned project, which aims to give older people the chance to have their say on public services. So far, the project has collected over 200 questionnaire responses from people in Holyhead and is setting up focus groups to discuss the main issues identifi ed. Gardening Club: Cardiff Institute for the Blind In May, The Commissioner s team visited Rhydypennau Allotments in Roath, Cardiff, to meet with members of Cardiff Institute for the Blind s Gardening Club. The club, which has been running for 16 years and has won many awards, currently has 20 members from across the capital who tend to fi ve allotments and grow a wide range of produce. Many members told said that they before they joined the club they rarely left their homes and were at risk of becoming lonely and isolated. Organisers are keen to encourage even more people with sight loss from to join the gardening club. For more information, contact Cardiff Institute for the Blind on or visit Our Newsletter Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any colleagues or contacts that you think would be interested in receiving it. If you have received this newsletter via a third party and would like to be added to our distribution list, please contact us (details below). We can also provide hard copies of the newsletter or a large print version on request. Please contact us if you would like to be removed from our newsletter distribution list. Your comments, feedback and stories We welcome your feedback about our newsletter so please feel free to contact us to share any thoughts or comments that you have. We also welcome suggestions about potential content for the newsletter, so if you have any information that you would like us to include in future editions, please get in touch. For more information about the luncheon club or Llais y Cymuned, call or veronica@morlo.co.uk.

7 The Older People s Commissioner for Wales The Older People s Commissioner for Wales is an independent voice and champion for older people across Wales. The Commissioner and her team work to ensure that older people have a voice that is heard, that they have choice and control, that they don t feel isolated or discriminated against and that they receive the support and services that they need. The Commissioner and her team work to ensure that Wales is a good place to grow older, not just for some but for everyone. How to contact the Commissioner: The Older People s Commissioner for Wales Cambrian Buildings Mount Stuart Square Cardiff CF10 5FL Phone: ask@olderpeoplewales.com Website: Accessible Formats If you would like this publication in an alternative format, please contact us. All publications are also available to download and order in a variety of formats from our