Unpaid carers in Carmarthenshire contribute a staggering £500million worth of care annually.
The vital role the army of 24,000 carers play in Carmarthenshire has been highlighted in a series of road shows run in Carers Week across the county.
Many are unaware of the network of support services available to support them. The road shows in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford helped to address this issue.
County executive board member for health and social care Cllr Jane Tremlett said: “Being a carer can often feel isolating and stressful, but there no need to feel alone.
“The council and their many partners can offer a range of support and information services to help carers in their valuable role. It is important that people seek advice. So many are unaware, and in some cases, too proud to take that step to seek help.
“Macmillian Cancer Support in Wales have acknowledge that Carmarthenshire people are stoic in nature and are not likely to seek support until their situation becomes desperate.”
County joint carers development officer Jonathan Rees said: “There are 24,000 unpaid Carers (Census 2011) in the county and it accepted the current figures are probably higher. More than 10,000 of these provide 50 or more hours of care per week.
“Carers, it is acknowledged, contribute more than £7billion to the health and social care economy in Wales every year with the average carer contributing £23,000.”
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
