Tag Archives: Wales

Carers at breaking point

Carers at breaking point, Older People’s Commissioner Sarah Rochira says

 Sarah Rochira says the system should fit around carers

More needs to be done to support carers who are at breaking point, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales says.

Sarah Rochira is concerned that too many carers across Wales are missing out on much-needed help and their work is often undervalued.

She said it can often lead to a deterioration of their mental and physical health.

Ministers said a “significantly strengthened and expanded policy” was in place to support carers.

There are now more than 5.8 million unpaid carers in England and Wales needing help!

More than one in 10 providing unpaid care

The number of unpaid carers in England and Wales has reached 5.8 million – a rise of 600,000 since 2001, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.

Figures from 2011 show that the largest increase was in unpaid carers working for 50 or more hours a week.

Wales had a higher percentage of people providing unpaid care compared with any English region.

In England, the highest percentages of unpaid carers were in the North West, North East and West Midlands.

The ONS study into unpaid care in England and Wales, 2011 found that more than 12% of the population in Wales provided some level of care in 2011.

Carers’ needs part of bill to ‘transform’ social care

29 January 2013 Last updated at 08:27

Carers’ needs part of bill to ‘transform’ social care

Older person An aging population is putting pressure on the social care system

The Welsh government is publishing legislation which will see carers getting the same legal rights to support as the people they look after.

The Social Services Bill will widen the range of people and organisations delivering social services.

It aims to give those in need of support greater choice and more control over the help they receive.

Ministers say it will also give people a say over the care they receive, and control over care budgets.

Under the bill, social workers will have new powers to enter homes and speak to vulnerable adults.

Around 150,000 people a year receive social care in Wales.