The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and her team have met with over 150 people at events in Caerphilly County Borough during 2013.
These visits formed part of the Commissioner’s Engagement Roadshow, which met with a total of 5,400 people at 180 events across Wales over the course of the year.
Commissioner Sarah Rochira made a commitment when she took up post in June 2012 to visit communities across Wales as part of her Engagement Roadshow to meet and speak with older people and to hear first-hand about what matters to them.
Ms Rochira and her team travelled over 25,000 miles across the country in 2013, which included visits to groups, organisations and individuals in Caerphilly County Borough.
Engagement events have included a visit to meet members of the Talkers and Listeners Club at the Lennox Club, Bargoed and the Deri 55 Club, finding out what local issues matter to them.
The Commissioner and her team have also visited Abbeyfield care homes in the local authority area, met with the Caerphilly Pensioners’ Association and attended the Care and Repair Caerphilly AGM in Ystrad Mynach.
Ms Rochira said: “My Engagement Roadshow, which has visited communities across Wales, has allowed older people to share information with me about their experiences, the things that matter most to them and the things that worry them most about growing older in Wales.
“One of the key concerns older people in Caerphilly County Borough have shared with me is the cuts to local bus routes, which leave people lonely and isolated. The closure of public toilets, a vital community resource, is also something that many older people in the area have told me they are worried about. It is important, even in these difficult financial times, not to lose sight of the vital role services such as these services can play in helping people to get out and about, stay engaged with their local communities and maintain their independence.”
The Commissioner’s engagement with over 5,400 people during 2013 eclipses the figure of 4,000 for 2012, with more Engagement events taking place than ever before. The Commissioner’s Enquiries and Support team have also provided help and support to over 1,000 older people who have contacted the Commissioner’s office to seek advice and assistance.