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| Carers at breaking point, Older People's Commissioner Sarah Rochira says | Carers at breaking point, Older People's Commissioner Sarah Rochira says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More needs to be done to support carers who are at breaking point, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales says. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Ministers said a "significantly strengthened and expanded policy" was in place to support carers. |
| Speaking on Carers Rights Day, Ms Rochira is worried at the pace of progress in a strategy to help carers and said she wants to ensure Wales gets it right for its 370,000 carers. | Speaking on Carers Rights Day, Ms Rochira is worried at the pace of progress in a strategy to help carers and said she wants to ensure Wales gets it right for its 370,000 carers. |
| "Without the care provided by unpaid carers in Wales, estimated to be nearly £6bn a year, many of our statutory services would, quite simply, be unable to cope," she said. | "Without the care provided by unpaid carers in Wales, estimated to be nearly £6bn a year, many of our statutory services would, quite simply, be unable to cope," she said. |
| "Carers should therefore be seen and treated as one of our greatest assets. | "Carers should therefore be seen and treated as one of our greatest assets. |
| "Many of the carers I have met as part of my Engagement Roadshow are at breaking point - they feel that no-one listens to them, despite asking for so little. | "Many of the carers I have met as part of my Engagement Roadshow are at breaking point - they feel that no-one listens to them, despite asking for so little. |
| "In so many cases they just want a little bit of help before a crisis occurs, such as information, advice, help to make decisions, practical help and training, and advocacy - someone to speak up on their behalf. | "In so many cases they just want a little bit of help before a crisis occurs, such as information, advice, help to make decisions, practical help and training, and advocacy - someone to speak up on their behalf. |
| "These are all things that would not cost a lot of money to implement, but would make a significant difference to carers' lives. | "These are all things that would not cost a lot of money to implement, but would make a significant difference to carers' lives. |
| "Carers shouldn't have to fit around the system, the system should fit around them." | "Carers shouldn't have to fit around the system, the system should fit around them." |
| Ms Rochira said the Welsh government's Carers Strategies Measure, which was launched in 2010, was a "welcome step forward". | Ms Rochira said the Welsh government's Carers Strategies Measure, which was launched in 2010, was a "welcome step forward". |
| It is a requirement on the NHS and local authorities in Wales to work in partnership to prepare, publish and implement a joint strategy to help carers. | It is a requirement on the NHS and local authorities in Wales to work in partnership to prepare, publish and implement a joint strategy to help carers. |
| But while she said improvements were starting to be seen, she added she had "real concerns" over the pace of the progress and that she intends to review the measure. | |
| She also wants service providers to work together more effectively and focus on what carers want, not what they think the carers need. | She also wants service providers to work together more effectively and focus on what carers want, not what they think the carers need. |
| Keith Bowen, director for Carers Wales said there are over 20,000 carers in Wales who are missing out on support all together worth a total of £66m a year. | Keith Bowen, director for Carers Wales said there are over 20,000 carers in Wales who are missing out on support all together worth a total of £66m a year. |
| He told BBC Radio Wales: "Carers often face financial implications for their role often having to give up work while their outgoings go up and income's gone down. | He told BBC Radio Wales: "Carers often face financial implications for their role often having to give up work while their outgoings go up and income's gone down. |
| "It's vital that carers get the right information at the right time and claim these valuable benefits." | "It's vital that carers get the right information at the right time and claim these valuable benefits." |
| The Welsh government said: "In the years following devolution, successive Welsh Governments have put in place a significantly strengthened and expanded policy and delivery framework of support to carers. This chapter sets out some of the key milestones." | The Welsh government said: "In the years following devolution, successive Welsh Governments have put in place a significantly strengthened and expanded policy and delivery framework of support to carers. This chapter sets out some of the key milestones." |