CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE OVER 50S

Hundreds of the over 50s in Carmarthenshire have taken part in an event to celebrate the creativity and contribution of older people.

‘Because Life is for Living’ was the theme of the Carmarthenshire 50+ Forum Annual Event at the National Botanic Garden of Wales last Friday.

Around 550 people attended the event whose special guest was folk singer and Radio Wales presenter Frank Hennessy who performed some of his favourite songs. There was also entertainment from the Tenovus Choir.

Over 40 information stalls were available, and a number of ‘taster’ sessions were put on – including arts and crafts, singing, sewing, walking and reflexology.

There were a range of speakers covering issues of interest to the over 50s in Carmarthenshire.

50+ Chairman Caroline Streek described the work of the Forum over the last year including working with Age Cymru to organise IT training since more and more older people are getting online.

She had an upbeat message about people in Carmarthenshire living longer and taking more exercise than the Welsh average.

Carmarthenshire County Council 50+ Champion and executive board member for social care and health Cllr Jane Tremlett spoke about the council’s strategies to help people with dementia.

“People are able to live well with the condition. Dementia awareness training is being given to staff in social care and customer services. We are pleased to support the establishment of Llanelli and Ammanford as dementia-friendly towns.

“Small traders are uniquely placed to provide services to people with dementia. Llanelli has been recognised as the first dementia-friendly market in Wales. Initiatives such as this have a significant effect on the quality of life of people with dementia.”

Carmarthenshire Older People’s Champion and executive board member for housing Cllr Linda Evans spoke about the policy to provide a thousand additional affordable houses in Carmarthenshire over the next five years.

“It is not only a matter of building more houses, it is about bringing empty houses back into use and buying houses in areas where there is the greatest need,” she said.

Older People’s Commissioner Sarah Rochira said the 50+ Forum helped public bodies to make better decisions by making people’s needs and views known. She emphasised that older people should not be considered as a problem but in fact made an important contribution to the economy and society.

Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe talked about the new Wellbeing and Future Generations Act which had led the United Nations to say that the rest of the world must follow Wales’s lead.

She said her role and that of the Act was to make sure that decisions did not just consider the immediate situation but looked at the impact on future generations.