Wales is to appoint the first commissioner for older people in the UK, the Welsh assembly has announced.
Gwenda Thomas, deputy minister for health and social services, said the commissioner would safeguard and promote the interests of older people and “speak up on their behalf”.
The commissioner will be given statutory powers to review the impact of public services on older people and examine the reasons for any failings.
”Our strategy for older people is about shedding the stereotypes that surround older people and ensuring that government at all levels can help people to live the lives that they want and deserve. This is not just about traditional issues such as social services or pensions it is about putting older people at the centre and ensuring they are engaged as active citizens in society, allowing people to work longer if they want to and ending the problem of good, able workers being thrown on the scrapheap just because of their age,” Thomas said.
The commissioner’s post will be advertised from next week and appointed later in the year.
More information
Welsh assembly’s older people strategy
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