No choice but to care – Carers Week Report 2024

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

No choice but to care

Carers UK carry out an annual survey into caring and this year their No choice but to care report was published on the first day of Carers Week 2024. The report found that 62% of those who are currently providing or those who have previously provided unpaid care said that they had no choice in taking on the role because no other care options were available – this is around 10 million adults.

While caring can be rewarding, the impact of providing unpaid care has been more negative than positive for all areas current and former unpaid carers were asked about, particularly for mental health (63%), physical health (53%), Job and ability to work (48%) and finances and savings (47%). The negative impacts as a result of caring were also felt most strongly by those who had no choice but to take on an unpaid caring role as well as women and those aged 45-54.

Ahead of the UK General Election, the research also found that 73% of members of the public surveyed for the research think that unpaid carers should receive more support from the next Government, particularly financial support and investment in social care.

Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK said:

“These findings demonstrate how caring can have a profound effect on every aspect of life and wellbeing, from mental and physical health, being able to work, or affecting their future income including pensions. That’s why we need to see a future Government deliver action across Government, in the form of a National Carers Strategy. With an ageing population, this is becoming ever more important.

“Carers Week is an important annual opportunity to ‘put carers on the map’. We want unpaid carers to know they are not forgotten, and they are not alone. Many are at breaking point, facing huge challenges with their caring responsibilities. On top of this they are struggling to manage their own health and wellbeing. Carers are worried about their long-term health, security and ability to care in the future.”

You can read the full report here:

https://www.carersuk.org/media/3dblytnt/carers-week-report-2024-web_final.pdf

Llais Cymru – June 2024 update

Posted on June 26, 2024June 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

Llais Cymru – June 2024 update

Llais is the national, independent body set up by the Welsh Government to give the people of Wales a stronger voice in their health and social care services. You can find out more about us by visiting www.llaiswales.org

This is what we have been up over the past few months:

Asking your opinion – We have been asking the public how waiting for treatment has affects their lives daily.

What we have done – We have completed projects on A + E and Living Happier and Healthier within the community and those reports will be published soon. We also completed the Wayfinding project, and we are happy to say that we are working with the Health Board with some positive developments for patients.

Where have we been – We have spoken to clients at Links Llanelli, the Mental Health Recovering Gathering, Carmarthenshire Carers Support Services at carers week and Myrtle House Community Food Bank and have made representations which have resulted in a better, more positive experience for service users.

Where are we going?

During the month of July, we are:

Attending the Carmarthenshire Carers Forum
Attending Pride at Llanelli and Pembrokeshire
Representing Llais at the Royal Welsh Show

If you would like to share your Health and Social care experience with us, please contact us via westwalesenquiries@llaiscymru.org

ACTIF Sports and Leisure – FREE 3 months

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Michael Ford

ACTIF Sports and Leisure – FREE 3 months

As an unpaid carer you could be eligible for a FREE 3 month membership. This would entitle you to use all of Actif Sport and Leisure facilities. Don’t miss our – limited membership available!

The membership includes individual use of:

Gym
Fitness classes
Swimming (during public or lane sessions)
Health suite
Health checks
Exercise programmes

Carers Wales – Me Time

Posted on June 25, 2024June 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

Me Time – Online support sessions for Carers – June to July

Monday 1st July – 2-3pm: Book Club

Come along to our informal and relaxed Book Club session! The session is a chance for carers to get together and take some time for themselves, have a chat with like-minded people and share the escapism of getting lost in a good book. If it is your first session, just bring your favourite book, we’d love to hear a bit about why it’s your favourite.

Wednesday 10th July – 11am-12pm: Getting the most out of your Carers Assessment.

Come and join our I&A Officer Nia Constant who will explain how to get the most out of your Carers Needs Assessment.

Monday 15 July 1.30-2.30pm: Caregiving – how to avoid burnout with Hazel Carter

An informative and thought provoking talk from award winning author Hazel Carter. Being an unpaid carer for a loved one is one of the hardest jobs in the world, especially if that loved one has a terminal or rapidly progressing condition.

Tuesday 16th July – 1-2pm: Crafty Catch Up

Join this online session to meet other carers whilst working on your latest craft project. Whether it is knitting, crochet, diamond dot art, card making, quilling, rock painting, jewellery making or simply anything you enjoy making. This session is informal and a chance to chat, create and connect with other carers.

Thursday 18th July – 11- 12pm: Could you be a Digital Champion?

Would you like the opportunity to upskill your digital know how? To find out more, why not join Carers Wales Me Time session with Digital Communities Wales. The session will explore the importance of Digital Champions and how they can support people across communities in Wales with their digital skills and overcome barriers to digital inclusion.

To Register: https://carersuk.org/wales/onlinesupport

Putting Carers on the Map – Carers Week 2024

Posted on June 25, 2024June 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

Putting Carers on the Map – Carers Week 2024

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. Carers Week is led by Carers UK with the support of a number of other charities.

This year we celebrated Carers Week 10th – 16th June and helped to ‘Put Carers on the Map’ in Carmarthenshire with an informative and relaxing day at Llanelli Library.

A warm welcome awaited carers who had the opportunity to chat to staff from 16 organisations and find out more about support available in their caring role. There was time for a friendly chat, cake and a cuppa as well as being introduced to two wonderful Carmarthenshire Therapy Dogs, Sheba and Marshall.

Carers also enjoyed a Creative Arts Workshop, Virtual Reality Demonstrations as well as having a de-stressing and soothing mini Thai Massage Therapy session from Services | Nuumam Thai Massage | Llanelli

A big thank you to all carers who attended, organisations who supported the event and Carmarthenshire County Council who funded the event.

Investors in Carers – Gold Award revalidated

Posted on June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 by Michael Ford

Investors in Carers – Gold Award revalidated

Our CEO Alison Harries is very proud to receive a re-validated Investors in Carers Gold Award from Anna Bird – Assistant Director -Strategic Partnerships, Diversity & Inclusion at Hywel Dda Health Board “Supporting unpaid carers of all ages is the heart of who we are what we do”

“Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales are delighted to have achieved our gold level revalidation, supporting unpaid carers of all ages is the heart of who we are and what we do therefore it is great that this has been recognised with this accreditation. Credit goes to all our staff in all they do for unpaid carers”

Care and Repair – Managing Better

Posted on June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 by Michael Ford

Care and Repair offer a Managing Better service

Managing Better is a free home visiting service offering advice and practical help for people over the age of 50 who have hearing loss, sight loss, dementia, or have had a stroke.

How we can help you:

A free Healthy Home Check for your home
Check what benefits you’re entitled to and help you apply for them

Help you reduce risk of falls and injury at home
Help you access useful services and connect you with our partner agencies

Help to assist you to live independently and safely
Advise on technology to increase your independence, reduce loneliness and boost your confidence

Click here to find out more

Dementia support in and around Ammanford

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Michael Ford

Are you looking for other people with dementia to talk to?

There is a regular get-together for people, in and around Ammanford, who have a diagnosis of dementia, to:

discuss our concerns together.
share, learn from and support each other.
just talk, be together and have fun!
with tea, coffee, and biscuits.

Where: The Meeting Room Glanavon Retirement Housing, Park Street, Bettws, Ammanford, SA18 2EX.

When: Drop in Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm

Please email for further information, directions or to have a chat about what we can do together: Email: dwfn@peter-clark.com

We particularly need help from Cymro Cymreig and somebody who is keen on social media and blogging.

If you don’t have dementia but can help, please also get in touch.

Ydych chi’n chwilio am bobl eraill â dementia i siarad â nhw?

Mae cyfarfod rheolaidd i bobl, yn Rhydaman a’r cyffiniau, sydd â diagnosis o ddementia, i:

trafod ein pryderon gyda’n gilydd.
rhannu, dysgu oddi wrth a chefnogi ei gilydd.
dim ond siarad, bod gyda’n gilydd ac efallai y byddwn yn cael hwyl hefyd!
cael te, coffi a bisgedi

Ble? Yr Ystafell Gyfarfod, Tai ymddeoliad Glanafon, Stryd y Parc, Bettws, Rhydaman, SA18 2EX.

Pryd? Dydd Mawrth, galw heibio rhwng 1pm a 3pm

Anfonwch e-bost ataf i gael rhagor o wybodaeth, cyfarwyddiadau teithio neu i gael sgwrs am yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud gyda’n gilydd: E-bost: dwfn@peter-clark.com

Mae angen help arbennig gan Gymro Cymraeg, a rhywun sy’n hoffi cyfryngau cymdeithasol a blogio.

Os nad oes gennych ddementia ond y gallwch chi helpu, cysylltwch â ni hefyd.

Carers Wales – Roadshow in Carmarthen

Posted on June 24, 2024June 24, 2024 by Michael Ford

Carers Wales – Roadshow in Carmarthen

When: Wednesday 17^th July 2024, 11am -3pm

Where: The Taf Suite, Halliwell Conference Centre, University of Wales Trinity St Davids, College Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3EP

Join us at our in-person Roadshow in Carmarthen, where you can meet local carers and hear more about Carers Wales, our campaigns and support.

There’ll be lots of opportunities to chat to Carers Wales staff, ask questions and get information and support.

Working together to support Carers – Co production in action in Carmarthenshire County Council by Emma Taylor-Hill

Posted on June 24, 2024June 24, 2024 by Michael Ford

Working together to support Carers – Co production in action in Carmarthenshire County Council by Emma Taylor-Hill

A ‘Working Together to Support Carers conference’ was held recently in Carmarthenshire. The Head of Adult Social Care said Supporting Carers is a priority in Carmarthenshire and the local authority wants to ensure a co production approach is used to inform this work.

The audience was made up from practitioners and carers. This included representatives from statutory and third sector services. The agenda included a series of presentations in the morning including:

Welcome and introduction to the day by Avril Bracey (Head of Adult Social Care, Carmarthenshire County Council) and Nick Andrews from Developing Evidence Enriched Practice (DEEP)
A video message from Luke Clements on the legislative and policy context
Information about the experiences of carers from Claire Morgan (Director of Carers Wales)
Reflection from a social worker about his work with a carer

In the afternoon, guests were able to join tables for discussions on different topics. This included:

Early support
Information/advice and assistance
Carers assessments
Respite/short breaks/direct payments.
Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on carers

Discussions were captured and will be collated to inform strategies in Carmarthenshire including the developing prevention strategy. This was a wonderful example of co-production and the day enabled qualitative information to be gathered, so that the voices of carers could be included in planning for support provision.

One theme that kept emerging throughout the day was the importance of relationship-based practice and how this can support a better understanding of those with caring responsibilities and their needs. It was evident that there is complexity within families with multiple carers and in some cases, this was not always being recognized and supported. It was suggested that there needs to be more of a proactive approach in identifying those with caring responsibilities who may benefit from assessment.

There was a great deal of discussion about the need for short breaks to be bespoke and in line with what matters for both the carer and the person with care and support needs. There were also suggestions for direct payments to be used flexibly and creatively to ensure a person-centred approach.

Feedback from carers was positive and there are plans to hold a similar event next year

If you would like to find out more about this topic, please have a look at the Welsh Government annual report for 2023 on the delivery plan for unpaid carers:

Unpaid carers delivery plan annual report 2023,