There is much that we can and should celebrate about growing older in Wales. Older people have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are the backbone of our nation and our communities.
Wales has a higher proportion of older people over 50 than any other country in the UK, yet often they feel overlooked and marginalised. Indeed, for too many older people in Wales, growing older is simply not what it should be.
Too many live in poverty. Too many feel isolated, vulnerable, lonely and afraid. Too many don't have the information they need to make important decisions about their lives, and heartbreakingly too many are victims of abuse.
With a growing global population of elderly people, and as longevity increases, abuse of the elderly is an increasing and serious problem that affects health and human rights and can cause death, so it is vital to raise awareness of it and thus prevent it whenever and wherever possible.
I was therefore pleased to support Hourglass Cymru, the only national charity focused on the abuse of older people and championing safer ageing, in their Safer Ageing Week earlier this month and to table a Statement of Opinion welcoming Safer Ageing Week 2021:
The statement reads
This Senedd:
- Notes that 29th November – 3rd December is Safer Ageing Week;
- Believes that people should have the right to dignity and respect in their old age;
- Regrets that 1 in 5 UK residents have personal experience of abuse as an older person or know someone who has been abused;
- Calls on the Welsh Government to continue to work with stakeholders including the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales to address shortcomings in safeguards for older people and to enable them to exercise their rights.
Elder abuse is global and comes in many forms including physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse and also neglect. Elderly people are human and deserve the same dignity and respect as people of all other age groups.
Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to abuse and to being unable to defend themselves and get help as fear and infirmity can be major barriers to seeking and getting help, and sometimes spotting and challenging abuse in the elderly isn’t easy, some are isolated having outlived family and friends, and some are abused in institutions where abuse is not spotted or is covered up, and in some cases the elderly are not given priority by authorities in abuse matters.
Worryingly a poll conducted by Hourglass Cymru found that:
- 1 in 5 people in Wales believe that inappropriate sexual acts directed at older people don’t constitute abuse.
- A fifth (21 percent) don’t view ‘pushing, hitting, or beating an older person’ as abuse.
- A third (31 percent) don’t see ‘taking precious items from an older relative’s home without asking’ as abuse.
- Over half (52 percent) of those surveyed in Wales believe that the abuse and neglect of older people increased as a result of the lockdown
Hourglass Cymru are calling on the Welsh Government to begin a national conversation about safer ageing; urgently review arrangements available for older people and their families to report abuse; and ensure all key workers are trained appropriately to spot abuse of older people, including domestic abuse.
They are calling specifically on Ministers in Cardiff Bay to commit to a safer ageing approach and to work across their departments to ensure that the views of older people are represented at key meetings. I fully back all their calls.
Meanwhile, I urge everyone reading this to look out and respond to signs of abuse among elderly family, neighbours and friends. We all have a role to play in protecting our older people and ensuring that they are living the life they deserve.
Hourglass run a free-to-call expert helpline with SMS, email and Instant Message options, which is a lifeline for older men, women and their families suffering from abuse, which might be physical, psychological, financial, sexual or neglect.
Their helpline number is 0808 808 8141; Text helpline - 07860052906; Email – [email protected]
