Engagement of older people in Wales – how Cymru Older People’s Alliance is forging a new direction
ISSN: 1366-3666
Article publication date: 10 October 2017
Issue publication date: 27 April 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The adverse impact of austerity on the available capacity of public bodies to give priority to engagement of older people means self-determination and older people representing the best interests of older people more generally – needs a fresh impetus if the voice of older people is to be heard and not marginalised. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes how a new direction for Cymru Older People’s Alliance was shaped, the engagement directly with older people that informed changes and key transitions negotiated to become a charity and form a democratically elected membership, with stronger structures and improved means to ensuring the “voice” of older people is heard.
Findings
Co-production, increased citizen engagement and promoting well-being are important new concepts in Welsh legislation but it is only through growing the infrastructure that enables older people to represent their own interests, that these new requirements will produce tangible results and progress can be made.
Originality/value
If we are to challenge ageism and recognise that older people need to be empowered and enabled to make their own decisions, then older people’s organisations need to change and adapt to the prevailing financial climate. This is not an easy pathway but it can be achieved through good planning, strong governance and effective engagement, listening carefully to older people’s views.
Keywords
Citation
Milsom, S.G. (2018), "Engagement of older people in Wales – how Cymru Older People’s Alliance is forging a new direction", Working with Older People, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 69-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-08-2017-0023
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited