A Pembrokeshire 50+ forum, organised by Help the Aged, recently (11 December) received a visit from local Assembly Member Joyce Watson.Speaking after the visit Joyce said:
"The event was an opportunity for me to hear about the work they do championing the rights of older people in the county and to listen to their concerns.
"The message of the meeting was that older people should have easy access to advocates who can offer advice and help fill in forms for disability adaptations and other benefits. A good example of this is the recent undertaking by the Older People’s Commissioner and Care and Repair Cymru to send out 13,000 letters informing older people of the Home Heat Helpline and the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES). "
"However, Age Concerns estimates that there is one paid advocate per 13,000 older people in Wales, so following my meeting I raised the concerns of the Pembrokeshire group with the Deputy Minister for Social Services in the Assembly (20 January) and urged the Assembly Government to guarantee access to advocacy services for older people."
Image: Joyce Watson AM (right) with members of Pembrokeshire 50+, Haverfordwest
