WAG must ring-fence strategy funds

WAG must protect older people’s strategy from spending cuts

Older People’s strategy funding “must be ring-fenced” says charity

THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT must protect a groundbreaking strategy to tackle pensioner poverty, ill-health and age discrimination in its spending review on Wednesday.  

That’s the message today from Age Cymru.

The charity wants funding for the internationally-acclaimed Strategy for Older People in Wales to be ring-fenced to address the ongoing needs of our ageing population.

Age Cymru’s Chief Executive Robert Taylor says:

“As a result of the Strategy for Older People in Wales there has been progress in increasing the number of people aged 50 and over in employment; in raising the numbers of people receiving help to live at home independently and more older people are being involved in a range of life-enhancing and meaningful activities at a local and national level. 

“Governments throughout the UK and the world are envious of the achievements of the Strategy for Older People in Wales to date, but there is still a considerable amount to be achieved in tackling outdated ageist attitudes and in combating ill-health and poverty among older people in Wales.

“Funding is vital to ensure that the Strategy for Older People in Wales is delivering the change that is needed in our communities.

“While Age Cymru acknowledges that the current economic climate is placing pressures on government budgets across the board, the progress of this groundbreaking strategy will be severely restricted without the commitment of continued funding.”

The population of Wales is ageing more rapidly than that of the rest of the UK.

Currently1 in 4 adults in Wales are aged 65 or over. 

By 2031, 1 in 3 three Welsh adults will be aged 65 or over.