Your Point of View is a year-long survey led through COPA to understand which issues older people across Wales feel should be prioritised. This six-month report brings together responses collected between January and May 2026 and gives an early picture of the issues that matter most to older people, including how priorities vary by age, location and personal circumstances. It can be found here
The findings show that older people’s priorities have remained stable over the first six months of the survey. Healthcare and the cost of living were consistently ranked as the most important areas of concern. Within healthcare, access to GP appointments was the leading issue across all groups, followed by access to hospital appointments and dentistry. Within cost of living, energy costs remained the top concern, even as the survey moved towards the summer months, followed by the cost of food and the cost of maintaining the home.
Social care, transport, communities and housing also featured strongly. Access to care, the cost of care and consistency of support were more important to respondents than respite breaks, with carers placing particular emphasis on reliable day-to-day support. Transport priorities varied more by age and geography, with bus services, the bus pass, blue badge parking and the cost of maintaining a car all emerging as important depending on respondents’ circumstances and where they live.
The report highlights differences between urban and rural areas, particularly around transport and housing. In some areas, transport was ranked above social care, while housing pressures appeared more significant in Cardiff and Powys. Community issues were generally focused on access to local services and shops, safety, public spaces, social opportunities, information and digital exclusion.
We would welcome feedback on the report and suggestions about the next steps in continuing this survey work to Cymru.older.peoples.alliance@gmail.com