Age Alliance Wales urges action on ageism ahead of Senedd election
Age Alliance Wales has called on the next Welsh Government to take urgent action to tackle ageism and to ensure that older people are treated with dignity.
The organisation said politicians must take coordinated steps to improve access to health and social care and to strengthen the financial wellbeing of older people in Wales.
According to Age Alliance Wales, a quarter of the Welsh population will be aged 65 or over by 2030.
The group has launched its manifesto ahead of the May Senedd election, outlining five core points which it claims will create an inclusive, age-friendly Wales.
The proposals include creating a dedicated ministerial lead, introducing mandatory training for professionals and awareness campaigns to increase understanding of ageism and abuse of older people.
“Too often, older people are not treated with the same urgency or empathy as others,” the document states. “Harmful assumptions about ageing continue to shape access, treatment and outcomes across health, care and community life.”
Age Alliance Wales has called on the next Welsh Government to commit to five core action areas:
- Challenge ageism and protect rights: A systemic approach to tackling ageism, embedding older people’s rights across health, social care and communities.
- Strengthen communities and participation: Safeguarding and expanding community-based services – including transport, social activities and local support – and ensuring older people are central to decision-making through genuine coproduction.
- Ensure accessible health and social care: Guaranteeing equitable access to both physical and mental health services, delivering fair pay and career development for the social care workforce and improving identification and support for unpaid carers.
- Secure financial wellbeing and advice: Strengthening income maximisation services and ensuring proactive outreach to help older people access the benefits they are entitled to, alongside integrating financial resilience into national ageing policy.
- Deliver sustainable funding and accountability: Embedding multiyear funding commitments for local authorities and third sector organisations delivering essential support to older people, with transparent monitoring and collaboration.
The manifesto also warns that inconsistent service access, long waits for essential treatments and gaps in mental health support leave many older adults vulnerable to loneliness, declining health and avoidable harm.
Issues such as poverty, inadequate housing, inaccessible transport and rushed hospital discharge processes are highlighted as major barriers to safe and dignified ageing. The document also stresses the growing importance of unpaid carers and the need for strong safeguarding frameworks across all services.
Victoria Lloyd, Chair of Age Alliance Wales: “This manifesto sets out clear, achievable actions to ensure every older person in Wales can live safely, positively and with dignity.
“We urge all political parties to prioritise ageing in their programmes for government. With the right leadership and investment, we can build an age friendly Wales where older people’s rights are protected and their contributions fully recognised.”
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