Bernard is one of Action For Elders great success stories. He has faced a torrent of financial, emotional and health related hardships, but has come through it all thanks to his strong resolve and help from Action For Elders.

Bernard is one of the many regulars at our Balanced Lives Social Hub in Swansea, run in partnership with Swansea Council and the National Waterfront Museum, Wales. He’s one of the many older people struggling on a day-to-day basis with the cost of living crisis. Bernard lives on the seafront and it often gets extremely cold, but he cannot afford to put his heating on, so uses a blanket to keep warm in the evening.

Bernard has lived alone since being widowed and has faced health issues, isolation and loneliness. He came along to our Balanced Lives Social Hub in Swansea, initially just to keep warm. He soon found that he had hugely benefited from the friendly, healthy and safe environment offered by Action For Elders at their various programmes.

Bernard was recently interviewed by Swansea Online and told Health Editor Katie Hoggan how he has managed to turn his life around:

“It’s very hard living on my own because I lost the wife. I didn’t have anybody. It took me a good couple of years to get better but I’m one of the lucky ones because I’ve got a good group of people around me who can’t do enough for me. I’m hoping now to help other people in the same situation as I was,”

Volunteering

Bernard is also a regular participant at our Balanced Lives exercise groups and takes part in our weekly Social Walk along Swansea Marina. He has become a valued volunteer at Action For Elders, helping others and putting up posters in the local supermarket to promote local events.
As Bernard told our Operations Manager Myles Lewis, he is enjoying being part of our groups and feels that it has changed his life for the better:

“I love volunteering for Action For Elders their work is amazing and I like to promote everything they do.’’