In January 2003 the Welsh Assembly Government launched The 10 Year Strategy for Older People in Wales. In 2008 the document 'Living Longer Living Better 2008-2013' detailed the second phase of this strategy.
The strategy highlights how government at all levels affects older people and their lives. Older people are not only seen as users of health and social services in the strategy. Their active role as citizens in their communities is recognised and valued.
The Strategy reflects the cross cutting nature if this work and therefore looks at not only health and social care but also a broad range of areas including transport, education and leisure, employment, volunteering, housing, community safety and health promotion. In order to effectively plan for an ageing society and to tackle age discrimination, the Strategy identifies older people as those over 50 years old.
The Strategy takes a two pronged approach by being proactive with early interventions to ensure the good health and wellbeing in the future, whilst also working on the current issues of how we currently deliver our services and support to those already in need.
Phase two Living Longer Living Better will focus on the "mainstreaming" of Ageing as well as the economic status and well-being and independence of older people, but with their engagement continuing at its heart.
The Welsh Government have funded each of the 22 local authorities to develop local strategies. Mandy Sprague is the Development Officer for Older People in Caerphilly County Borough Council, appointed to do such work.
Caerphilly 50+ Forum
A number of Focus on 50+ events were held in 2004. Out of these came the agreement that a 50+ forum or forums would be set up. This has now been done and there is now a growing and effective independent Caerphilly 50+ Forum which is run by people who are 50+ for people who are 50+.
The main aims of the Caerphilly 50+ Forum are:
- To act as a focus for the views of the over 50's in the county borough;
- To speak with a voice that represents those views as fairly as possible;
- Make sure that voice is effective
The Forum have a very successful Digital Lobbying pilot project that has allow members to influence decision making on local and national issues such as age discrimination, quality of care, and the costs of care.
Membership of the Forum is open to anyone over the age of 50 and resident in the county borough of Caerphilly. Make sure your views are represented in the decisions that affect your lives. Log on to the Caerphilly 50+ Forum website or come along to their next meeting.
For further information contact Stephen Thomas - Participation and Involvement Officer for Older People (50+) at Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations by email to stephen.thomas@gavowales.org.uk or telephone 01443 863540. Information is also available on the Caerphilly 50+ Forum website.
Strategy Development Plan - 4th year plan 2007/08 (PDF 80kb)
Strategy Development plan - 3rd year plan 2006/07 (PDF 75kb)
Strategy Development plan - 2nd year plan 2005/06 (PDF 81kb)
Strategy Development Plan for Older People 2004/05 (PDF 89kb)
Statistics for Older Persons Strategy (PDF 16kb)
Annual Report on 50+ Positive Action 2006 - 2007 (PDF 203kb)
Annual Report 2005 - 2006 (PDF 67kb)
Annual Report 2004 - 2005 (PDF 39kb)
For further information about the 50+ Positive Action action plan for Older People in Caerphilly, call 01443 864277 or email 50Plus@caerphilly.gov.uk.
The Age Positive Campaign
The Age Positive campaign promotes the benefits of employing a mixed-age workforce that includes older and younger people. The Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment is a voluntary set of Good Practice standards to help employers recognise the business benefits of an age-diverse workforce. The Code encourages employers to make decisions that do not discriminate against someone because of how old they are. The Code covers good practice in six areas of employment. Further information is available on the Age Positive Website.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has an Age Diversity Policy for staff, which covers most of the areas that Age Positive's Code of Practice covers. For further information please email equalities@caerphilly.gov.uk.