Crisis in Accident and Emergency Services

On May 15th on Radio 4, Jeremy Hunt suggested that one of the main reasons for the crisis in hospitals’ A&E services is the ageing population. Making them another marginalised group to ‘feed’ deficit reduction again contributes to a divided ‘us and them’ society and a blame culture. Older people are becoming a target for ageist subliminal messages.

Last week’s launch of ‘The Strategy for Older People (Phase 3)’ suggests it’s time to champion the generations that fought for our country and built its wealth. MPs salaries are too easily earned through crass strategies rather than solving complex problems and rewarding citizens’ contributions. If prominent people can perpetuate ageist myths then they must be challenged!

Ageing isn’t restricted to the old. It is something that is necessitated by birth, and an age-positive approach from a co-operative society should promote opportunity, value positive contributions and encourage planning for life. We must recognise that:

• The majority of older people are economically active and net contributors of wealth to local communities
• They provide the social glue as a cohort of ‘unpaid carers’ that save our care services millions annually
• They contribute to governance in the public sector
• They are the volunteers that make our local services work

The facts that appear to substantiate an ageing crisis are in fact not a surprise to any one. In fact, the real surprise is that our politicians are surprised at all. Demographic modelling is not new:

In his ‘Adding Life to Years’ publication, John Osmond (Institute of Welsh Affairs) says that in the next 10 years, the number of people aged over 65 in Wales will increase by about 5%, an increase of 130,000, and the number aged over 85 will increase by 30,000. In the next 60 years, the number of people in the UK aged over 65 will more than triple from 4.6 million to 15.4 million, and in that same timescale, according to the UK Government’s actuary department, the number of people aged 100 will increase from 10,000 to 1 million.

Thus, the real problems emerge:

• Shouldn’t successive governments have prioritised the need to plan for an ageing society?
• The funding crisis is a result of reactive approaches and the absence of preventative investment
• We don’t plan to resource community services in order to relieve acute services 
• Funding decisions are historic not targeted and intelligent
• Older people themselves are enablers and ‘social capital’

It's not too late to be positive about ageing. In fact, it's our only hope!

Neil Williams
Head of Agency Performance and Funding, Care & Repair Cymru

Making the case for tackling age discrimination

This poem is probably familiar to you, you may even think it is sentimental cliché. http://www.stargazerdownunder.com/general/reading/see.html

I’ve met many older people with fascinating histories. For example, recently I met a lady who was recruited at age 17 to work as a code-breaker at Bletchley Park; a ‘Barnardo’s boy’; another who was a prisoner of war in Italy. Anne (not her real name) told me of her early life. Before Anne was sixteen her mother had been widowed twice and Anne’s three sisters had all died of (what are now) preventable diseases. A hard start to a long life.

When I hear their stories, of adventures and achievements, or of their triumph over adversity, it makes me feel humble. It makes me question why society and the media persist with negative images of ageing and older people.

Perceptions of older people are influenced by negative imagery and language about ageing and older people, which devalues a large part of our population. These perceptions lead to ageism and discrimination. It is misleading to portray older people solely as frail and as consumers of health and social care. Addressing discrimination is an investment both now and in the future, for we all hope to grow old don’t we?

An article in Stylist magazine investigated our fear of old age and I quote that “shifting our attitudes towards ageing would not only be good for old people… studies in Japan… have shown the prevalence of depression and dementia is far lower, implying that this culture may exert a protective influence.”

The contribution of older people is often underestimated. University College London estimate that the over 65s contribute an average £3,000 a year (net of pension, welfare and health costs) to society through tax receipts, spending power, volunteering and childcare.

Moving forward means putting an end to old-fashioned stereotyping of people because of their age. We need greater examination and recognition of the valuable contribution older people make to society. It is in everyone’s best interests to recognise the talents and contribution of all our citizens. Promoting positive images and stories of ageing in Wales is an important step in the right direction.

Equality is fundamental to building a fair and inclusive society. Yet ageism and discrimination are deeply embedded in the social framework and are resistant to change. It is for this reason that ten years ago the Welsh Government committed itself to a Strategy for Older People. The third phase, which was launched on 22 May, will build on this valuable work.

We all need to play our part to realise our ambition to make Wales a great place to grow old.


Shona Martin is the Agency Chief Officer at Care & Repair Monmouthshire and is currently on secondment to the Welsh Government to lead on the development of phase 3 of The Strategy for Older People in Wales.

Rural Housing Week, 20-27 May 2013

What a great idea. If rural housing issues had been considered important enough a decade or more ago to warrant the same impact as cheese week, or even rabbit week, then it would certainly be of a much higher priority today.

For Rabbit, read Rural Housing!

Tell a Friend or Neighbour about Rabbit Rural Housing Awareness Week

If you are reading this page then well done - you are already aware of Rabbit Rural Housing Awareness Week and have probably got your pet rabbits community booked in for their FREE health check with your local, participating vet Rural Housing Enabler. However, we need to spread the word to other rabbit owners communities about the FREE health checks that vets RHEs are offering for rabbits communities, councillors, and housing decision makers during the week and to ascertain how sustainable they are and how forming partnerships on the ground can reap dividends to all.

You may be aware of a friend or someone else in your neighbourhood who owns a pet rabbit is in housing need due to lack of suitable affordable housing, numerous exclusive second homes and the cost of renting or buying even though they are working. If so, we'd really appreciate you telling them about Rabbit Rural Housing Awareness Week especially with the cost of living, travelling and rural services becoming increasingly dearer and harder to reach. Why not print this letter and send it to your rabbit owning friend or neighbour in housing need, so that even more rabbits communities can benefit from these FREE rabbit community health checks.

On a sober note, Carl Sargeant AM, Minister for Housing and Regeneration said in his blog, Building a better Wales: ‘housing can provide a catalyst for the Welsh economy'. Let us see if Rural Housing Week in Wales can be the catalyst for raising awareness of housing and the rural economy, and how we can tackle the future sustainability of communities together.

Arfon Hughes
Gwynedd Rural Housing Enabler

(PS apologies to Rabbit Awareness Week)

The 'bedroom tax': no compassion, no choice

Lord Freud’s controversial comments on the bedroom tax this week should come as no surprise to anybody. For three years we’ve been part of the fight against this policy, highlighting the lack of equality, the lack of compassion, and the false economy of it. His two suggested solutions to the ‘bedroom tax’ were quite simply letting children sleep on a sofa bed when they stay, or finding a job. Not only do these solutions demonstrate that same disregard for compassion and equality that we have become used to, but they ignore an overwhelming body of evidence that say they will not work.

The first ‘solution’ makes the assumption that a tenant – a single mother or father – has managed to downsize from the house the policy judges them to be under-occupying. Evidence has shown that they are unable to do this. Figures unearthed by BBC Wales revealed that just 400 social rented single bed homes were available across Wales for people to downsize into. Lord Freud’s own department estimates 40,000 under-occupiers. 

There is, of course, the option of downsizing into the private rented sector. CHC members’ own evidence to the Welsh Affairs committee, supported by a Channel 4 investigation, has shown consistently that this is a more expensive option. You have to wonder how much consideration Lord Freud has given to this false economy when he talks about ‘very expensive things’ for the state to do.

And so, to the argument that those people under-occupying their homes should look for work. 20% of housing benefit claimants already work. Then there are those who can’t. People with disabilities have often been lost in the debates about the ‘bedroom tax’. We’re left with those who can work who, in Wales, find themselves amongst 119,000 unemployed people, with less than 20,000 vacancies up for grabs. Assuming that all applicants are equal, and of course they’re not, that’s a 1 in 6 chance of a job. Statistics show that in some of our most deprived communities such as Blaenau Gwent, that is more like 1 in 23. This is before we consider the circumstances of the applicants, who may well be unable to find any suitable jobs in their area.

Lord Freud made it very clear in his evidence that he believes tenants have a choice when it comes to the ‘bedroom tax’. However, six weeks into the life of the policy, the only choice many face is whether to pay their rent or feed their family.


Aaron Hill
Policy Assistant

Building a better Wales

I’ve always seen housing as more than just bricks and mortar. Quality homes are essential in ensuring that people are able to enjoy home life and play an active part in their local community. My short time as Minister for Housing and Regeneration has reaffirmed this in my mind.

Since taking on the new portfolio, I have seen first hand how Welsh Government investment through schemes such as Social Housing Grant and Houses into Homes are making a real difference to the people and communities of Wales. I am delighted that we have recently been able to commit further funding to support these vital projects.

I’ve also visited a number of housing and regeneration projects in places as diverse as Barry and Anglesey and have been impressed to see what can be achieved when the Welsh Government and key partners work together. In these difficult economic times, it is essential that we make the most of capital investment, not only to build much needed homes, but also to continue to support our construction industry and the economy.

I’m confident that housing can provide a catalyst for the Welsh economy. However, I am concerned about the current economic crisis and the negative impact of the UK Government's welfare reform agenda on people who can least afford it, as well as on housing organisations. What austerity and welfare reform don’t change is that everyone in Wales deserves a good quality, affordable and safe place to live. That should be what everyone involved with housing in Wales strives to achieve.

Carl Sargeant AM
Minister for Housing and Regeneration