U.K.: Abuse fear for 25,000 old folks in Wales

. KNIGHTON, Wales / News Wales / December 18, 2008: As many as 25,000 older people in Wales could be suffering abuse, a seminar at Cardiff University Law school has heard. Ana Palazón, Director of Help the Aged in Wales, said: “We estimate that as many as 25,000 older people in Wales could be suffering elder abuse, but the very nature of this problem – where people can often be too afraid to report that they are being abused - makes it difficult to know for certain how widespread the problem actually is.” Robert Taylor, Age Concern Cymru Chief Executive, said: “Many of us will find it difficult to get our heads around the idea that elder abuse is a fact of life for many older people in modern Wales, but elder abuse does happen, and it happens every day on our doorsteps in communities right across Wales. We cannot allow this to continue. “We’ve organised this seminar to inform our work in this area and so that together we can influence the development of adult protection policies for Wales and consign elder abuse to the pages of history.” The seminar brought together an all-Wales panel of experts to test expert opinion on whether new legislation is the answer. Organised by Help the Aged in Wales and Age Concern Cymru, the seminar, also attended by Ruth Marks, the Commissioner for Older People in Wales, involved workshops and presentations on issues such as the effectiveness of current legislation in protecting older people. © copyright 1999-2008 News Wales Related Report New charity appoints Dr Bernadette Fuge as chair CARDIFF / Daily Post / December 18, 2008 By Martin Williams, Daily Post THE new charity for elderly people in Wales has appointed Holywell doctor Bernadette Fuge as its chairwoman. The Transition Board for developing a new organisation from Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales made the announcement yesterday. Dr Fuge graduated from the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff in 1969 before becoming a GP principal and partner in a general practice in the capital between 1978 and 1990. She then moved to the Welsh Office between 1990 and 1999, and until 2005 worked for the Welsh Assembly as Medical Director NHS Wales. Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am delighted to have been chosen for this important and challenging role. “I want to build on the success that Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales have achieved as separate charities over many years, and help create a powerful and influential new charity which will improve the lives of older people in Wales.” © 2008 Daily Post North Wales