A REPORT released before the start of Carers’ Week (Jun 6-12) suggested that the vast majority of carers (72%) in Wales feel that their role is not understood or appreciated by their community.
The results of the survey, carried out across the UK, said that more than half of carers have let neglected their personal health by allowing problems to go untreated, while 50% said that their mental health had deteriorated as a result of their role.
In the workplace, the picture painted was equally bleak, with two thirds of respondents to the survey saying that they felt they had no choice other than to give up work or reduce their hours, and 47% saying that they struggled financially.
Keith Bowen, who leads the Carers’ Week partnership in Wales, said: “Carers have told us that it makes a huge difference to their lives when they are supported by their local services and communities; whether that’s being offered a flexible appointment to see their GP, having flexible working policies from their employers, or their school raising awareness of caring and disability.
“Despite this, the majority of carers told us that their local community was not supportive of their caring role, which in turn is having a significant and negatively impact on their life chances.
“This report comes at an opportune moment with a new Assembly forming in Wales. We’re calling on individuals, organisations and governments to think about what they can do to improve the lives of carers in their community.”
The six charities driving Carers Week are calling for adequate funding for social care support to be prioritised by the newly elected Welsh Assembly.
Carers Week 2016 is made possible by Carers Wales joining forces with Age Cymru, Carers Trust Wales, Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, Motor Neurone Disease Association and MS Society Cymru.
Local AM Adam Price has pledged his support for Carers’ Week. Mr Price said the results of the research should send a powerful message to the Welsh Government that the needs of carers must be better considered.
The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM said: “The research shows that two-thirds of carers (66 per cent) have given up work or reduced their working hours to be able to undertake caring responsibilities. More than half of carers have struggled financially and have let their own health problems go untreated.
“Furthermore the research shows that one in three carers only get help when it’s an emergency.
“Being a carer is perhaps, and regrettably, the most unrecognised and undervalued support for those most vulnerable. Those who look after family members and loved ones take tremendous pressure off our health and social care service and selflessly look after others before themselves. We have a duty to look after them too.
“I pledge my support for Carers’ Week and commit to doing whatever it is I can to ensure carers get the support and services they need in our communities.”
Carmarthenshire Carers Champion, Cllr Jane Tremlett, who is also executive board member for county health and social care said there were legions of carers looking after relatives, friends or neighbours on a regular basis who could not manage without that help.
“The support they provide is unpaid and we are striving, through a wide network of partners, to ensure that there is support and help for this devoted workforce to people of all ages across the county”, she added.
“This week – National Carers Week – that support network membership has been out in force across Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford making many connections with carers and signposting additional help for them.
“We have been surprised some carers still do not know where to turn to for help but it is there in abundance.”
Anyone needing support or advice should contact Carmarthenshire carers Information Service on 0300 0200 002 or write to the service based at The Palms Unit 3, 96, Queen Victoria Road, Llanelli. SA15 2TH
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