5. Statement by the Minister for Children, Older People and Social Care: In celebration of Older People's Day

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:42 pm on 2 October 2018.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 4:42, 2 October 2018

Thank you. I think as the invitation has been laid down well in advance, I don't think I've got any excuse for failing to attend now. Jayne, thank you very much for that, and I think it does show that we all actually have a role here to play locally in the events that we attend and the events that we organise in the way that we actually celebrate the lives of older people, and the contribution that they make. We need to keep on doing this, because I think it's a bit of a 'We are winning, but we've got to do it more often in order to turn round these negative connotations that are often portrayed in the media about older people'—that they are a burden, and so on. Actually, if we didn't have these older people who are volunteering, who are looking after their children, looking after their loved ones, who are doing so much, who are running community transport schemes, who are working in food banks, who are doing the school runs, and so on, we'd fall apart, quite frankly—we really would. But it's also the wisdom and experience that comes. There's a role for older people—I have to say this as somebody who's just passed 55—in being part of the bedrock of those communities. It's not institutional wisdom; it's that community wisdom. They've see a few years under their belt and, actually, you're touching on that intergenerational aspect.

There are wins both ways. We increasingly see it from well-known, high-profile initiatives such as Pimp my Zimmer, to the exchanges where older people go into schools and do reading classes and assist teachers assistants within classes, but also younger people going into residential homes. The engagement is fantastic to see, and there are wins both ways—younger people going from school, sometimes as part of the Welsh bac, to actually talk through memories with people who are experiencing dementia, and to work with them on that. There are so many wins with it.

We all have a role to play, and I pick up the cudgel. I'm sure that my office team who'll be listening to this debate will have heard the invitation for next year, and will be putting it eagerly into the diary. I'd be keen to come along, and I've been to that centre several times. Most recently, I was there with a large group of older persons organisations—and younger people as well—talking about the issues of loneliness and isolation. So, I’d happily look at coming to that next year, but thank you very much for your approach to it. I know that John, your colleague in Newport, has said the same as well: we all have a role to play in celebrating older people.