Age Cymru backs UN's age friendly call
Published on 01 October 2015 01:30 PM
Age Cymru is backing calls from the United Nations for member states to make it easier for older people to get out and about in villages, towns and cities and to give them better access to the facilities and services they need.
The call from the UN's independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older people, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, comes on the 25th anniversary of International Day of Older Persons.
Commenting on the statement, Age Cymru's Director of Influencing and Programme Development, Victoria Lloyd:
"Age Cymru welcomed the calls made by Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, as we are committed to achieving an age friendly Wales.
"In an age friendly Wales, older people will have equal rights, respect, opportunities and the same access to services as the rest of the population.
"They will be able to live socially, environmentally and culturally inclusive lives and everyone will be able to contribute and participate in their communities in the way they choose to do so.
"In an age friendly Wales, all forms of discrimination against older people will be removed and older people will have equal respect, rights and the same access to services as the rest of the population.
"However, many older people are marginalised by a number of factors including poverty, isolation, cultural stereotyping, physical barriers in communities and a lack of opportunity - this must change.
"Becoming age friendly is a social and cultural change programme that will need to permeate all aspects of our society and older people are central to that process.
"The Welsh Government, together with citizens, services and businesses has a real opportunity to make Wales a country that will lead the world in how we engage with the challenge of ageing.
"Age Cymru's ‘Creating an age friendly Wales' report spells out Age Cymru's eight goals for creating an age friendly Wales and the key steps which need to be taken to make this a reality.
"Getting it right will make Wales a better country to grow older in now and will make it even better and fitter for the future."