Heléna Herklots, CBE
Older People's Commissioner for Wales | International Federation on Ageing
Cardiff, Wales, UNITED KINGDOM
Heléna Herklots has extensive experience in public policy, campaigning for change and providing support services for older people.
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Biography
Heléna is the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales (OPCW) – an independent statutory role established in law to protect and promote older people’s rights. She took up post in 2018 after over 30 years working on ageing and older people’s issues. Starting her career working directly with older people and their families in day centres and care homes, she has influenced public policy, campaigned for change and developed and provided support services for older people.
As OPCW Heléna has set out four priorities - to protect and promote the rights of older people; to end ageism and age discrimination; to stop the abuse of older people; and to enable everyone to age well.
Prior to her appointment as Older People’s Commissioner, Heléna was Chief Executive of Carers UK, the national membership charity for unpaid carers. Experience before that includes as Services Director at Age UK, and Head of Policy at Age Concern England.
Heléna has led and contributed to a number of UK Government advisory groups covering topics including care and support, housing, dementia and carers. She also spent a year on secondment working on older people’s issues at the Department of Health.
Heléna is Chair of the UK Industrial Strategy Healthy Ageing Challenge Advisory Group, a member of the British Society of Gerontology and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She is also a member of the Church of England Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care, serving in a personal capacity.
In 2017 Heléna was awarded a CBE for services to carers.
Areas of Expertise (5)
Public Policies On Aging
Corporate Strategy
Older Adult Rights
Healthy Aging
Elder Care
Accomplishments (1)
CBE (Commander), British Empire for Services to Carers
2017
Education (3)
Birkbeck College: M.Sc., Public Policy and Management
Birkbeck College: Certificate in Gerontology
University of Bristol: B.Sc., Economics and Politics
Affiliations (2)
- UK Industrial Strategy Healthy Ageing Challenge Advisory Group : Chair
- Royal Society of Arts : Fellow
Links (1)
Media Appearances (7)
‘Digital Equity for All Ages’ on International Day of Older Persons 2021
British Geriatrics Society Improving healthcare for older people online
2021-10-01
Heléna Herklots CBE is the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales – an independent statutory role established in law to protect and promote older people’s rights. She took up post in 2018 after over 30 years working on ageing and older people’s issues.
Coroner slams 'dehumanising' care given to five residents who died of neglect at a scandal-hit nursing home where one elderly man was left looking like a 'prisoner of war'
Daily Mail online
2021-03-16
Helena Herklots, Older People's Commissioner for Wales, said there had been many changes in the social care sector since the shocking events at the care home first came to light - to ensure there was never a repeat.
Covid: Ministers response to older people probe 'not sufficient'
BBC online
2020-12-02
Addressing the Senedd's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Ms Herklots said the Welsh Government had written to both her and the Equality and Human Rights Commission [EHRC] at the start of last month."The information that they sent through wasn't sufficient to address our concerns," she said.
Swansea City sets its sights on age-friendly status
InYourArea Community online
2020-11-05
Swansea has set its sights on working towards gaining World Health Organisation's official Age Friendly status. The Older People's Commissioner for Wales has offered to work with agencies in the city to achieve this goal.
Commissioner questions speed of testing in care homes in Wales
Guernsey Press online
2020-05-21
Helena Herklots, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, has called for the human rights watchdog to “examine and scrutinise” actions taken by the Welsh Government as part of a UK-wide inquiry.
Coronavirus: Testing expanded for care home residents and staff
BBC online
2020-05-02
But Older People's Commissioner Helena Herklots criticised the testing criteria saying rules should be changed in line with England as a "matter of urgency".
Woman who fell victim to Swansea scammers warns others to be vigilant
ITV online
2019-05-28
The Older People's Commissioner for Wales Helena Herklots says she wants more to be done to tackle crimes like this. "It’s not just that you lose money, it’s the impact on your own confidence, on your ability to live independently."
Featured Articles (1)
Too many carers feel alone, invisible and unsupported
The Guardian
Heléna Herklots
2018 From taking a partner with an illness to hospital appointments, to helping a disabled sibling with washing and dressing, or caring full-time for an elderly parent, people in the UK are providing more informal care than ever before. During my six-and-a-half years as chief executive of Carers UK, more than 12 million people in the UK are estimated to have taken on a caring role for a relative or friend. The care they provide is valued at £132bn each year – close to spending on the NHS across the UK – but there’s still some way to go before this contribution is centre stage in policymaking and debate.
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