Welcome to the Age Alliance Wales (AAW) website. The Alliance is an alliance of national voluntary organistaions concerned with older people. More information can be found in the 'About Us' section.  The 'Members' section provides links to member's individual websites, and you can discover what is happening in their own interest area. Click on 'Newsletters' to see the latest relevant newsletters submitted by members, as well as those for the benefit of the Alliance in general.

NEWS, INFORMATION, & UPDATES

Chair and Vice Chair

Richard Williams (RNID) is Chair for the Alliance for 2010/11 and Barbara Locke (RSVP-CSV) continues as Vice Chair. The outgoing Chair (Lowri Griffiths) has now taken a position with The Stroke Association.

Extending the Reach

At a very successful special meeting in September 2009 the Alliance reviewed the work undertaken on the 'Extending the Reach' project - looking at the breadth and depth of work undertaken through the Alliance, providing a 'snap shot' of its impact on older people and the organisations and individuals that work with and for them in the voluntary sector and beyond. As part of the project a commissioned DVD showcasing a series of digital stories with first hand accounts from older people on the issues they face, was sent with the report to Assembly Members (AM's) on October 1st, coinciding with the United Nations' Older People's day.

For more information on the report and DVD, please Contact Us a shown hereunder. To view the report, please click on the relevant link below;-

AAW Report - Extending The Reach (English)

AAW Report - Extending The Reach (Cymraeg)

National Service Framework - Review

At the request of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), the Care & Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) and the Health Inspectorate for Wales (HIW) worked closely with Age Alliance Wales (AAW) to engage the views of both service users and potential service users in ascertaining their views on "What impact is the National Service Framework (NSF) having on the quality of life of older people in Wales sepcifically in relation to dignity, nutrition, and integrated services for older people with dementia?"

Further to discussions at the successful Alliance meeting on September 28th, and discussions with representatives of the Alzheimers Society, AAW engaged 'conversation groups' at selected venues throughout Wales with people diagnosed with Dementia. These were fact  finding meetings at which simple questions, but which also embraced the identified 11 strands of the NSF, hopefully provided the necessary information enabling a report to be presented to WAG soon, and which forms part of the overall review.

Care Services - 'Top Up' Payments

The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) via the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) has completed a 'top up' review to establish whether the charging of 'top up' fees is consistent across providers in Wales. It will help gain an understanding of the number of people making 3rd party payments; the highest, lowest, and average payments; the distribution of such payments across Wales, together with the rationale for such payments, and the outcomes of these arrangements on service users. The eligibility review focused on issues impacting on services, including eligibility criteria. It should provide information about significant  issues and interfaces, drawing a picture of thresholds for accessing social services, eligibilty, and the impact on provision  for service users.

At the request of CSSIW, AAW led on the service user element of the review, including a carer perspective. AAW arranged focus groups across Wales and engaged the views of service users/carer's and potential users of services in asecrtaing views on "The impact of the operation of third party payments/top ups in older persons care homes" and "Their experiences, views, and perceptions on accessing social care".

The CSSIW has just published its report 'Third Party Payments for care home fees in Wales' (July 2010).

Meetings

Following the successful meeting of the Welsh Chief Executive Officers of the member organisations on April 15th in Cardiff, there will be another similar meeting in Cardiff on September 14th (probably the Glamorgan Building). These meetings will determine the future direction and strategies of AAW.

Please Contact Us as shown hereunder for further information.

Training

AAW has arranged training days for its member organisations, facilitated by Empower. The courses are free to members and the feedback from those who attended the Writing Winning Bids & Funding Strategies courses on July 9th & 15th was very positive with eager anticipation for the next 2 courses;

•  September 30th & October 8th at Dyffryn Gardens - Project Costing & Full Cost Recovery (2 x 1 day courses).

                        Click here for Course Synopsis

•  October 19th & 20th at Age Cymru, Cardiff - Project Management Masterclass (1 x 2 day course).

                        Click here for Course Synopsis

Please see Contact Us as shown hereunder if you are interested in any of these courses.

Other

Following the consultation that took place on the 'Implementing Dormant Accounts' scheme in Wales, responses are being collated and analysed and will be presented to the Welsh Assembly Government. There will be an announcement on agreed spending priorities and the mechanism for delivering the 'Dormant Accounts' fund. Approximately 12 million pounds is being made available from dormant bank accounts with the money allocated to support some of the priorities of the Welsh Assembly Government. The consultation with the Big Lottery Fund has now closed and an update will be made as soon as possible.

Enjoy the site.

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