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 will provide 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

The Alliance held a very successful special meeting on September 28th at the Court Colman Manor nr Bridgend. The meeting reviewed the work undertaken on the 'Extending the Reach' project, which looks 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 this project a DVD was commissioned to showcase a series of digital stories with first hand accounts from older people on the issues faced by older people. The report and DVD was sent to all Assembly Members (AM's) to coincide with the United Nations' Older People's day on October 1st.

For more information on the outcomes of the day and/or the report and DVD, please contact the AAW Coordinator (see Contact Us below). If you wish to view the report, then 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) is working closely with Age Alliance Wales 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, Age Alliance Wales engaged 'conversation groups' during November at selected venues throughout Wales with people diagnosed with Dementia. These were fact  finding meetings at which simple questions, but which also embrace the identified 11 strands of the NSF, hopefully provided the necessary information to enable a report to be presented to WAG early in 2010 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 instigated 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 focuses 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.

CSSIW wants AAW to lead on the srevice user element of the review, including a carer perspective. AAW will engage the views of both service users/carer's and potential users of service 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".

It is intended to hold 4 focus groups in North Wales (Bangor January 27th) ; South West Wales (Mumbles - date to be decided) ; Mid/South Wales (venue and date to be decided); and South East Wales (Newport - January 12th). It is anticipated that a report on the work undertaken by AAW should be available in early 2010.

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.

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