The Deputy Minister for Social Services today agreed to consider introducing a Declaration of Older People’s Rights following a debate on the issue led by Conservative AM Darren Millar.
The Commissioner for Older People will work with the Welsh Government in exploring the proposals.
Darren Millar AM, Shadow Minister for Health, said, "I am delighted that the Welsh Government has agreed to take these ambitious proposals forward to help empower older people.
"A Welsh Declaration of Older People’s Rights would clearly enshrine the standards that older people should expect in society and help ensure they receive the services and rights to which they are entitled.
"While such a document may not be legally binding, it would send a very powerful message to providers of care and services as well as older people about their position in society.
"There has been a great deal of focus on the rights of children and young people in recent years. It is important to remember that older people have rights too."
William Graham AM, Shadow Minister for Social Services, said, "This would be a major step forward in recognising the important and valuable contribution that older people make to life in Wales.
"I am pleased to see the Deputy Minister and Commissioner for Older People take forward this important project as a further step towards eliminating some of the obstacles older people face."
Notes:
Darren Millar led a short debate on the issue on 18 January 2012:
In her statement, issued this morning, the Deputy Minister for Social Services says:
Since we launched our Strategy for Older People in 2003 we have driven forward real improvements to the lives of older people in Wales. When I launched the consultation on the third phase of the Strategy in October 2012, I stated the Welsh Government’s intention to consider and explore whether a Declaration of Older People’s Rights would help us in our ambition to protect and enhance the rights of older people in Wales, and have asked my officials to consider, with partners how this could be explored further. This builds on the good debate we had in the Senedd earlier this year on this issue that was led by Darren Millar AM.
Whilst in itself a Welsh Declaration on the Rights of Older People would have no binding legal effect but it would send very clear signals to statutory bodies and service providers, as well as to older people themselves, about our expectations and would strengthen our ability to ensure that older people receive the support and services they need to lead independent and full lives. I am pleased that the Commissioner for Older People will lead with us work to give further consideration to the potential parameters and impacts of a Welsh Declaration.
Wales already has a higher proportion of people of state pension age than other parts of the UK, and over the life of the third phase of the Strategy the number of people aged 85 and over is projected to double. However I am confident that we have the ambition and structures in place to help Wales respond to the opportunities and challenges that these population changes present. We are privileged to be in a position where we can build on our achievements and our experience, to proactively take forward a further 10 years of positive action on ageing so that Wales is recognised as a good place to grow older.