Background

There are approximately 400, 000 unpaid carers in Wales, and this figure is due to rise to over half a million by 2027.  Caring for a loved one can have an adverse impact on mental and physical health and wellbeing, in addition to employment and education outcomes.

It’s important for us to understand the impact of a caring role, and work with unpaid carers living in CTM to maintain good health and wellbeing, feel supported, and realise their potential.

By listening to, involving and valuing the voices of unpaid carers, we have developed priority areas that we will focus on for the next five years.

On this page you can read how we gathered insights to shape our focus.

How we involved unpaid carers

During Autumn 2022 we met with unpaid carers at an event held by Bridgend Carers, in addition to running our own hack-a-thon.

We looked at the priorities identified for unpaid carers in our Population Needs Assessment and discussed what actions we can take to improve services.

Themes explored included:

• Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
• Access to information and services
• Time for me
• Support for carers
• Loneliness and isolation
• Living independently
• Home from hospital
• Community services and support
• Good dementia care

How can services be improved?

In summary, unpaid carers would like to see:

• Redefining the term and reframing the language used when referring to ‘carers’ – it can take people a long time to identify themselves as a carer which can mean they do not seek support until crisis point.
• Set up one team ‘around the carer’ to ensure there is a consistent level of support.
• Simplify the diagnosis process for children with a multi-disciplinary team set up to recognise masking, understanding issues and how to support the child
• Integrate third sector organisations within hospital teams to ensure carers gain advice and support as soon as their loved ones become unwell
• Set up a community group for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s to go and socialise and have fun with people on the same stage of the journey, which will offer reassurance to carers (e.g. a Men’s Shed style group)
• An awareness campaign to recognise the value carers offer and carers’ rights, and to help people to understand when they are a carer so they can seek support ahead of crisis point
• Improve information sharing – set up an information hub for carers to get all the information they need, supported by a course for carers to be led by an umbrella organisation and carers which can offer advice, support and information on Carers’ Rights
• Support carers to have a voice and to influence services co-productively by having more meaningful ‘what matters?’ conversations