Physical health is the most frequently reported challenge facing older people in Wales, Age Cymru survey finds

Older people struggling to access healthcare 

More than half of the respondents to a Wales-wide survey of the over 50s said their physical health is a challenge with many saying their health has deteriorated over the last 12 months because they struggled to access healthcare.  They also said accessing both hospital and GP services was problematic.  This is the second year in a row that physical health was the most frequently cited challenge by respondents. 

Funded by the Welsh Government, Age Cymru, along with four national pensioner organisations, surveyed more than 1300 people aged 50 or over during March and April this year. It is the fifth annual survey undertaken by the charity to understand what currently matters to older people across Wales. 

Worryingly nearly a third of the respondents (31%) felt that their physical health had deteriorated during the last year, while only 8% felt that it had improved. In addition, 30% of those surveyed found mental or emotional health a challenge, a 9% increase from 2023 while 18% told us that their mental health had become worse over the last 12 months. 

The kind of health problems experienced by respondents varied, with many reporting multiple overlapping issues at the same time. One older person said:

“I suffer from arthritis which makes walking long distances difficult. I have had a long bout of stomach trouble and have suffered with fatigue too.” 

Another respondent told us:

“Whilst calling 999 for my husband who was having a stroke, I was told it would be a four-hour wait for an ambulance. But I ended up waiting 12 hours through the night, so in the end I drove my husband to the hospital and waited all day and night until he was given a temporary bed the following night. It was exhausting and unacceptable.” 

Others noted that the closures or limited access to services such as dentistry and podiatry was impacting on their physical health, particularly if they were unable to afford private treatment.  

“I was unable to access the continuing treatment needed to get dentures. Eventually after about 18 months without any dental treatment at all, my health deteriorated. I experienced pain when eating and became iron deficient.”

Some mentioned that the higher cost of living was affecting their physical health with people saying they struggle to buy fresh food or heat their homes sufficiently during winter. The situation may now become worse for many older people in Wales, after the Westminster Government announced they will be means testing vital Winter Fuel Payments. 

Poor housing conditions were also cited as affecting people’s health, especially those living in the rented sector.

“I live in a damp house with mold on the walls and on a busy road with constant traffic flow. I attribute my worsening asthma to these environmental factors.” 

Minister for Social Care, Dawn Bowden MS, said “Each year Age Cymru’s annual survey provides a valuable insight into what matters to older people across Wales. This year, it highlights the many factors affecting people’s physical health, including access to healthcare, housing, the cost of living, transport, and the availability of local activities. It also shows what can help, such as being kept updated while waiting for treatment, adaptions to the built environment and housing, pain management courses or NHS follow-on care. 

“Through our work to implement the Strategy for an Ageing Society, we will continue to address the issues that affect how we live and ultimately how we age well. Working in partnership with Age Cymru and the older people’s national groups helps us to understand what matters and how we can make the greatest difference to people’s lives.” 

Age Cymru’s head of policy Heather Ferguson said “These figures paint a very difficult picture for older people. We hear from many who want to be out living their lives but can’t access the support they need to improve or maintain their health. Or from others who have seen a decline in their wellbeing due to lack of access to their nearby amenities, with cuts in bus services or lack of local activities. Older people need access to good quality healthcare and preventative services at their point of need, together with better connections to their local communities.

“We also want the Chancellor to rethink their decision on means testing Winter Fuel payments, a vital lifeline to keep thousands of older people well during the cold winter months. 

“In Wales, we’ve just appointed Eluned Morgan MS as the new First Minister. From the very start of her term in office, the First Minister and her team must address this burgeoning health crisis and enable all older people to have the best possible experience of later life.” 

For more information call Age Cymru on 0300 303 44 98 Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm, email: policy@agecymru.org.uk, or visit www.agecymru.org.uk/annualsurvey. 

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