The concept of ‘Council of Elders’ originates from Harvard Medical School where ‘seniors’ are deployed as an educational innovation for health professionals. See ‘A council of elders: creating a multi-voiced dialogue in a community of care’ Katz, et al (2000).

The idea extends beyond food, health and wellbeing for achieving low level preventative care. Much of this is based upon Maggie Kuhn’s view over thirty years ago, when she advocated using the wisdom and experience of the older generations to solve today’s problems.

Following Welsh Food Alliances advocacy of a ‘Food and Health Policy Council’ in the Welsh Nutrition strategy consultation (2002), WFA had a conversation with Dr Katz at a Cambridge Public Engagement and Health conference in 2006. As a consequence they proposed a ‘Council of Elders’ in evidence to the Welsh Assembly Governments ‘Quality of Food’ consultation in 2007.

A clear distinction is made between providing and monitoring services in public, private and third sector services. An informal Council of Elders was proposed to monitor and take up concerns revealed by our food surveys. For example, issues which need to be pursued with food retailers, local authorities and others, to solve the many food access issues facing older people.