The Wales Green Party will tomorrow launch it's ground breaking Older People’s Manifesto. Instigated by former leader Pippa Bartolotti, this special manifesto highlights the needs of this fastest growing part of our population.
The challenge as Pippa Bartolotti says is to “ live older, but not feel older! “
“All too often the unique needs of older people are ignored. The Wales Green Party will change that. We believe this is the first time a political party has written a manifesto specifically addressing the need of our aging population.”
The number of people aged 65 and over in Wales is now 553,000, this will rise by half by 2030. Demographic change is good news – a mark of our improving living conditions, diet and medical advances. But public policy is not catching up, and the needs – both emotional and financial – are not being met by Welsh Government or by any other political party.
“The Wales Green Party heeds the cries from older people facing an uncertain and increasingly expensive old age, and this Older People’s Manifesto addresses the issues many of us will face in a changing world.”
Highlights from the manifesto include:
· Wales Green Party will focus funding on preventative healthcare strategies
· Ensure that councils construct adequate toilets and places to sit in public spaces
· Ensure Internet providers are aware of what services older people need and get people connected.
· Rebalance education spending so there is an increase in the proportion spent on older learners
· Implement pooled health and social care budgets
· Reduce hospital costs by half by introducing Policlinics
· Ensure staffing levels on older people’s wards are in line with Royal College of Nursing
· Support existing respite centres and fund new respite care centres and day centres where they are needed
· Pressurise the Government and policy makers to put the welfare of older people at the heart of responses to climate change.
· Massively increase investment in energy efficiency retrofit programmes in Wales, reflecting the urgent need to tackle climate change, taking millions out of fuel poverty.
For further information please contact kimbryan@walesgreenparty.com