Placing older carers at the heart of individual health care plans

Age Cymru and Carers Trust Wales supporting health bodies across Wales 

Carers Rights Day – 21 November 2024   

Age Cymru and Carers Trust Wales have formed a partnership to support health bodies across Wales to help identify and support older unpaid carers so they can become more involved in the care planning process for the people they look after.  

Funded by the Welsh Government, the charities are training healthcare staff to better understand some of the unique pressures facing older carers and to gain an insight into the vital role they can play in care planning.  

The charities say there are approximately 275,000 unpaid older carers in Wales, more than half of the total number, providing significant amounts of time in a wide range of responsibilities.  And without this contribution they say health and social care systems in Wales would struggle severely.  

Throughout October and November, the charities have been training staff in GP surgeries to help them identify older carers earlier. Unpaid carers own health and wellbeing is often affected by the demands of caring so getting help earlier means they can remain well themselves. 

They’ve also been delivering training sessions to hospital staff to help them discharge patients safely, so they remain safe and well and thereby reduce emergency re-admissions.  Clearly carers have a crucial role in this process as they will most likely be delivering much of the post hospital care and therefore need to be included in discharge planning conversations. 

The partnership is also working with the care home sector in Wales to help improve people’s transitions into care homes with specially designed training packs and guides.  The charities believe that the carer still has an important part to play in securing the wellbeing of the person they care for, even after they’ve moved into a care home. 

Project lead Chris Williams says “Older carers can face additional challenges that will need consideration in any care planning process, and they might also benefit from additional support. However, some don’t see themselves as a carer, they simply see themselves as doing the right thing for a partner, close friend, or relative. 

“But if health and social care workers recognise that caring role, they can help the carer access important information and advice, financial entitlements, and other support such as respite, that enables them to stay fit and well and continue in their caring role.” 

For more information contact carers@agecymru.org.uk or call Chris Williams at Age Cymru on 02920 431548, or visit agecymru.wales/carers 

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