A ‘strong voice for older people’: New commissioner gets started

Wales’ new older people’s commissioner has vowed to be a “strong voice” for the elderly as she officially takes on the role.

Rhian Bowen-Davies started in the job on Monday September 30, taking over from the outgoing Helena Herklots, who had served since 2018.

In her new role, Ms Bowen-Davies will be tasked with promoting awareness of the rights and interests of older people, and challenging discrimination against older people, as well as renewing legislation affecting their interests.

The job has existed since 2008, when Wales became the first country in the world to appoint an older people’s commissioner. It comes with a range of legal powers to help safeguard and promote the interests of the elderly.

Ms Bowen-Davies said: “The quality of our lives as we grow older is influenced by a range of factors such as our health, housing and income, as well as where we live and the types of support, services and community networks accessible to us. 

“So I’m keen to meet and hear from older people in all parts of Wales to understand the range of challenges they face in their day-to-day lives, and to hear how they feel things could be done differently to enable and support them to live and age well.”

Ms Bowen-Davies was Wales’ first national adviser on domestic abuse in 2015 and, in recent years, chaired domestic homicide reviews with some cases involving older victims.

A fluent Welsh speaker and a former police officer, Ms Bowen-Davies described herself as an effective communicator who is resilient, determined, brave and bold.

Her first actions in her new job will be to visit older people across Gwynedd and Powys as she begins to develop her plans.

Ms Bowen-Davies is also working on setting up a “large-scale consultation” with older people, inviting them to share their views and ideas about key areas she should prioritise.

In a statement, the new commissioner highlighted ‘significant challenges’ facing older people, including the rising energy price cap and the UK Government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments.

She said: “These issues, combined with pressures on public services and wider issues such as digital exclusion, loneliness and social isolation, are resulting in multiple disadvantages for older people – making it increasingly difficult to access the vital services and support they need.”

She vowed to be a “strong voice for older people” and to ensure that their “experiences and concerns are brought directly to decision and policymakers”.

She continued: “I will not hesitate to hold organisations and individuals to account where this will deliver the best outcomes for older people.”