Burnham Shows Support to Tackle Elder Abuse

8.00.00am GMT Fri 14th Nov 2008

Louise Hughes, Eleanor Burnham, Ruth Marks

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales has sponsored the launch of Age Concern's "Advocacy Counts 2" survey into Elder Abuse.

The launch took place at the National Assembly for Wales and was exceptionally well -supported.

Age Concern's survey highlights the lack of advocacy services for older people in Wales as well as the need for proper training in issues relating to elder abuse and rights.

Ms Burnham said, "As a former home-care manager and the daughter of older parents who lived into their nineties, I am extremely proud to be associated with Age Concern Cymru and its work. Older people are often fiercely independent but many will also need help of some kind. In this technological age the human links that used to bind people together have been eroded. Advocacy helps fill that void by acting on behalf of older people to ensure they are getting what is rightfully theirs and that they are being treated with respect.

"I welcome the involvement of Age Concern and its partner organisations in putting together this second survey. It is disappointing to see that since the October 2007 results were launched there has been very little improvement in advocacy service delivery across Wales. This must be rectified.

"I hope that continued involvement of the Commissioner and the kudos of the National Assembly for the launch of the survey results will give this report the serious attention that it deserves."

Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services officially launched the survey.

Age Concern Cymru's Louise Hughes, Project Officer for the Elder Abuse Project and their Chief Executive, Robert Taylor also spoke and answered the guests' questions about the survey.

The Older People's Commissioner, Ruth Marks was also in attendance along with the newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner for Older People, Sarah Stone, who had previously held a post with Age Concern.