Ahead of National Older People’s Day on 1 October, older people’s groups from across Warwickshire were in force at Shire Hall to address the key issues facing the elderly.

The event, which brought Senior People’s Forums, Age UK Warwickshire and local Age Concerns face to face with council and health bosses, invited delegates to play their part in responding to key issues faced by the county’s ageing population.

Director General of Age UK Michelle Mitchell attended the event and praised the “strong collective voice” of Warwickshire’s older people’s groups and the importance of voicing back their concerns to Government.

Dignity, debt, health and housing were all on the agenda and older people spoke about the support they need to keep active and independent in their communities.

Elizabeth Phillips, Chief Executive of Age UK Warwickshire, said the public needed to challenge negative stereotypes surrounding older people. She said: “There are nearly 100,000 over 65s living in Warwickshire, and this should be a cause for celebration. We need to recognise the valued contribution that older people are making to families and communities – the fact that a huge proportion of older people volunteer for local causes and provide unpaid care to someone they know.”

Wendy Fabbro, Strategic Director of Adult Social Care at the County Council, added: “The overriding message today is that older people who feel independent report a higher quality of life, are safer and can make a contribution to their communities. Along with older people’s groups and colleagues in health, we are committed to securing services which enable older people to stay independent and active in their communities and prevent the need for more costly care.”