THE WET weather in Swansea didn’t dampen spirits when the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales visited last week to learn more about the activities on offer in the city to support people to age well.
The Commissioner joined older people for the weekly waterfront walk, which is followed by a cuppa at The Swigg in the marina, before joining the Soup and Social group at the Waterfront Museum, which offers older people something to eat as well as social activities.
During the visits, the Commissioner also had an opportunity to speak with older people about the issues affecting their lives and the action they’d like her to take to deliver positive change.
The experiences, views and ideas shared by older people will be used to shape the Commissioner’s upcoming Strategy and Work Plan as well as her ongoing work to improve policy and practice.
The visit to Swansea was part of a wider series of visits to meet with older people across Wales where the Commissioner and her team have been hearing directly from older people about the action they should deliver and the key issues they should focus on, with visits to every local authority in Wales.
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said: “It was great to be back in Swansea to learn more about some of the excellent projects on offer to support older people, and to see first-hand the positive benefits they are making to people’s lives.
“I met with over 100 older people during my visit and was struck by the energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved. Nobody was left to walk or sit or on their own – there was a real sense of community and a warm welcome for everyone.
“Older people told me that these groups, and the other activities available, which include movie afternoons, quizzes and other social gatherings, gave them something to look forward to, some structure and purpose, and were really important to help prevent loneliness and social isolation.
“One older woman I spoke to said that after she’d retired she had been in a dark place, questioning her value in society and seeing a drop in her mental health and well-being. She said the walking group was a ‘life-saver’, enabling her to be physically active as well as having the opportunity to make new friends and socialise.
“I’d like to thank everyone for sharing their experiences with me to help me develop my upcoming Strategy and Work Programme, which will have older people’s voices at its heart.”
Discussing the visit, Rhys Ananicz, Swansea’s Ageing Well Partnership and Involvement Coordinator, said: “We are really grateful to the Commissioner for taking the time not only to visit us in Swansea but also to fully engage with community members, joining in with activities and making a really big effort to chat with everyone.
“It was a great day, and many community members expressed how meaningful it was to have their voices heard in such a relaxed, casual environment. The Commissioner’s genuine interest and approachability made a lasting impression.”
