Age Cymru duo speak at global conference

Two of our colleagues are guest speakers at a global conference on ageing in the Czech Republic this week.

Age Cymru's Safeguarding Programme Manager Louise Hughes, and the charity's Healthy Ageing Manager Claire Bottomley, are at the IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing in Prague.

Louise is giving a presentation on protecting older people from scam mail, as she explains:

"Scam mail can have a devastating effect on people's lives and there are cases we know of where individuals have lost tens of thousands of pounds because of scam mail.

"It can also strip away people's dignity, self-confidence and independence and can leave them in fear of their safety and wellbeing.

"I'll be speaking about the psychology behind scam mail and the cruel tricks that crooks use to lure people into parting with their money.

"I'll also be explaining some of the fantastic work that is being done by organisations such as Age Cymru and Trading Standards to help people who have been the victims of scam mail."

Claire is speaking about how the development of the Age Cymru Nordic Walking Programme which gets older people to take part in physical activity.

Claire Bottomley says:

"The Age Cymru Nordic Walking Programme was set up in 2007, and since then it has seen thousands of older people across the country try their hand at Nordic Walking - one of Europe's fastest growing forms of physical activity.

"The programme has also recruited an enthusiastic an army of volunteers the length and breadth of Wales who deliver Nordic Walking events for over 50s every week.

"I'll be telling the conference about the challenges and opportunities we faced when we created the Age Cymru Nordic Walking Programme and encouraging delegates to set up their own Nordic Walking initiatives."

The IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing takes place in Prague between 28 May and 1 June 2012.

2012 is also European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations (EY2012).