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| OAP champion urges involvement | OAP champion urges involvement |
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| Wales's "champion" for the elderly unveils her first report later on the UN International Day for Older People. | Wales's "champion" for the elderly unveils her first report later on the UN International Day for Older People. |
| Ruth Marks took up the role as older people's commissioner for Wales in April with a vow to ensure a greater role in policy-making for pensioners. | |
| The commissioner said the main message in the report was to "involve" individuals and not "ignore" them. | The commissioner said the main message in the report was to "involve" individuals and not "ignore" them. |
| Ms Marks will submit the Coming of Age document to First Minister Rhodri Morgan at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. | |
| The older people's commissioner, the first in the UK, is independent of the government and is tasked with being an advocate for the over 60s in Wales. | |
| Her role is to raise awareness of the policy implications of an ageing society, to challenge discrimination and promote a positive image of ageing. | Her role is to raise awareness of the policy implications of an ageing society, to challenge discrimination and promote a positive image of ageing. |
| AGEING POPULATION FACTFILE Older people enjoy longer, healthier and more active lives playing a more important role in the labour market | AGEING POPULATION FACTFILE Older people enjoy longer, healthier and more active lives playing a more important role in the labour market |
| Mortality rates are expected to continue to improve over the course of the 21st CenturyBorn in 2001, 66% of men and 75% of women can expect to reach 85, while 33% and 36% respectively are projected to reach 100By 2022 there will be an estimated 1m fewer working-age people under 50 and 3m more working-age people aged 50 and over | Mortality rates are expected to continue to improve over the course of the 21st CenturyBorn in 2001, 66% of men and 75% of women can expect to reach 85, while 33% and 36% respectively are projected to reach 100By 2022 there will be an estimated 1m fewer working-age people under 50 and 3m more working-age people aged 50 and over |
| For the first time ever, there are now more people over state pension age (60 for women, 65 for men) than under-16s. Source: Office for National Statistics, England and Wales, October 2008 | For the first time ever, there are now more people over state pension age (60 for women, 65 for men) than under-16s. Source: Office for National Statistics, England and Wales, October 2008 |
| In July, Ms Marks held public consultations events at Mold and Swansea to hear people's opinions. | In July, Ms Marks held public consultations events at Mold and Swansea to hear people's opinions. |
| "During my first few months of consultation events around Wales I have been impressed with the passion and determination of the people I have met," she said. | "During my first few months of consultation events around Wales I have been impressed with the passion and determination of the people I have met," she said. |
| "It is obvious to me that whilst there are many instances of good practice, the services delivered to older people is patchy. | "It is obvious to me that whilst there are many instances of good practice, the services delivered to older people is patchy. |
| "In my first report Coming of Age I state that one of the strongest messages I am receiving from Older People in Wales is 'involve us don't ignore us." | |
| "I want to ensure that the voices of older people across the country are heard by all those who can make their lives better. One of my greatest challenges is to ensure that I reach the most vulnerable in our society - those people who are seldom or never heard." | "I want to ensure that the voices of older people across the country are heard by all those who can make their lives better. One of my greatest challenges is to ensure that I reach the most vulnerable in our society - those people who are seldom or never heard." |
| Also to mark the UN day, both Mr Morgan and Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas, will attend a series of events. | |
| Damaged pavements | Damaged pavements |
| They will visit Pontypridd High School to launch the Wales Intergenerational Strategy - a scheme which aims to bring older and younger generations together in order to build bridges and restore contact between the generations. | They will visit Pontypridd High School to launch the Wales Intergenerational Strategy - a scheme which aims to bring older and younger generations together in order to build bridges and restore contact between the generations. |
| Ms Thomas will also be speaking at a conference organised by Help the Aged which explores ways of preventing falls amongst the elderly. | Ms Thomas will also be speaking at a conference organised by Help the Aged which explores ways of preventing falls amongst the elderly. |
| The charity estimates 200 older people fall over on damaged pavements in Wales every day. | The charity estimates 200 older people fall over on damaged pavements in Wales every day. |
| The Care Council for Wales launches a group to investigate the kind of workers needed in future to provide the best care for our growing elderly population. | The Care Council for Wales launches a group to investigate the kind of workers needed in future to provide the best care for our growing elderly population. |