6. Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal: A Bill on a rights-based approach to services for older people

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:19 pm on 30 June 2021.

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Photo of Peredur Owen Griffiths Peredur Owen Griffiths Plaid Cymru 4:19, 30 June 2021

I wish to speak in support of the motion tabled. I'm the Plaid Cymru spokesperson on communities and older people, and as such, this proposed legislation is something I take a keen interest in. This motion is timely in light of a number of headlines we've seen in recent weeks. We've seen research that shows that older people are feeling increasingly cut off from society. This is, in part, due to old habits of relying on cash, and with a reluctance to adopt online banking, this adds to the feeling of being ignored, left out and left behind. It has also been said that loneliness is the new normal for many older people. We should not accept or tolerate this. This section of society may be among some of our most vulnerable and, for many of us, our most precious. 

We have also heard how scams have risen dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic. We know that older people are often the victims of this type of crime. It's also true that they are the most targeted. This is causing police forces to alter their recruitment policies, so that they have a constabulary more capable of investigating these crimes. Then, of course, there are the headlines that we saw at the start of the pandemic and, indeed, throughout the pandemic: the impact on care homes. The death rates in care homes were not acceptable, and lessons have to be learned. Those residents who were fortunate enough to avoid catching coronavirus were still impacted greatly by the removal of visitation rights from family and friends.

It is possible for social distancing to be maintained, even during a pandemic, to protect and prevent the virus from spreading. The blanket ban on visits under any circumstances, including socially distanced outdoor visits, meant well-being plummeting for many care home residents. Sending out a clear message that the rights of older people matter and are protected in law would be a powerful thing for this Senedd to do. This legislation will make it clear that we, in this Senedd, value our older people. Most importantly, it will tell our older people that we care. That's something worth supporting. Diolch yn fawr.