City sets its sights on age friendly status

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Swansea has set its sights on working towards official Age Friendly status from the World Health Organisation.

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has offered to work with agencies in the city to achieve this goal.

It will highlight the good work taking place in Swansea but also where the city can improve and learn from others.

The Commissioner, Heléna Herklots CBE, recently attended a meeting of the Swansea Public Services Board.

It is a partnership of public service agencies who work together to improve local services. The four statutory members are Swansea Council, the Swansea Bay University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales and the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, but it also involves other organisations that have an interest in the wellbeing of the city.

Ms Herklots said: “Age Friendly Cities and communities are places where there are no barriers to older people living independently, taking part in local communities and living well into their older age.”

She said they are also places where the physical environment is not a barrier for older people so should include benches and safe seating to assist bus users or those going shopping, safe pavements, sufficient street lighting and that shops, businesses and public organisations are aware of the needs people have and challenges they face.

She said current challenges older people faced included the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic which had been incredibly difficult for many, digital exclusion due to a lack of access to or knowledge of IT and scams targeting older people.

Ms Herklots said: “Swansea has made fantastic progress over the last few years and we have a lot to shout about but we also have a lot still to learn. I’m looking forward to working with agencies across Swansea to make communities more Age Friendly, which will make a positive difference to the lives of older people. “

Swansea Council’s joint deputy leader who chaired the meeting of the PSB, Cllr Andrea Lewis, said: “The Public Services Board exists to improve critical services for everyone in Swansea but we were especially pleased to be joined at our last meeting by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.

“We are absolutely committed to making Swansea an Age Friendly City and we look forward to continuing to work with Heléna to achieve this.

“Not only will this allow us to share the good work we are doing in Swansea with the international network but we will be able to learn about and implement great ideas from other parts of the world to benefit older residents here.”