ADVOCACY services help make sure our wishes are followed and our voices are heard at times when we may be vulnerable.

Age Cymru believes advocacy services have a key role in preventing and tackling the abuse of older people.

Elder abuse affects an estimated 39,000 older people in Wales and is more common here than anywhere else in the UK.

Our Rule Out Abuse campaign is calling for older people who may have suffered abuse to have the right to access advocacy services.

The National Assembly for Wales is currently considering the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Bill.

While this legislation commits to strengthen processes for protecting adults from abuse, it does not include the right for at-risk adults to have access to advocacy services.

Age Cymru feels this is a missed opportunity and the Welsh government needs to rectify this omission so that the Bill meets its vision of ‘giving citizens of Wales a strong voice and greater control over their lives’.

If any of your readers feel they or someone they know may benefit from someone independent to represent their views, I would urge them to contact their nearest advocacy service.

Age Cymru works with Age UK and together we are the largest provider of free information and advice in the UK – please ring us on 0800 169 65 65 and we can give you details of your local advocacy service.

LOUISE HUGHES

Safeguarding Manager Age Cymru