Every year, people from across the world come together to mark International Day of Older Persons to raise awareness of opportunities and challenges faced by ageing populations, and to mobilise the wider community to address difficulties faced by older people.

To celebrate this year, the Carers and Community Support Team and the Ceredigion Actif Team put on a large event at Lampeter's newly refurbished Wellbeing Centre. There were over 40 organisations in attendance, with information stands and activities held throughout the day.

County Councillor and Older People's Champion, Alun Williams, delivered a rousing speech about what an Age Friendly Ceredigion means and how the council has been gathering feedback from residents to help plan for the future of a county that has an increasingly ageing population.

Ceredigion has a higher proportion of older people than average across Wales. 26% of our population are over 65.

By 2040 the figure for Ceredigion is projected to be 33% - so that will then be one in three of the population. That could present a challenge, because all societies need a balanced population of young and old in order to function well. But it also means that, according to Age Cymru, “It’s never been more important to reposition older people as important players within our society. We need to celebrate ageing as a positive transition while keeping our older citizens involved in civic and community life.” We mustn't let people use the usual stereotypes about older people because there are of course big differences between the different generations.

That could present a challenge, because all societies need a balanced population of young and old in order to function well.

But it also means that, according to Age Cymru, “It’s never been more important to reposition older people as important players within our society. We need to celebrate ageing as a positive transition while keeping our older citizens involved in civic and community life.”

We mustn't let people use the usual stereotypes about older people because there are of course big differences between the different generations.

Modern 80-year-olds were teenagers at start of the 60s, the decade that’s regarded as the start of the modern era.

now want to remain in their own homes and live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

They were very different from the previous generation of young people and now they're very different from the previous generation of older people.

So, it's important that governments, councils and organisations now tailor their services and their plans to fit that aspiration.

We’re finding that this generation are living longer, and in general more healthily, and

This includes everything from the services that we provide, to the design of our houses, our streets and our transport systems.