Effaith Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 Mewn Perthynas В Gofalwyr Impact of the Social Services And
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Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru Y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon National Assembly for Wales Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Effaith Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 mewn perthynas â Gofalwyr Impact of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 in relation to Carers Hydref 2018 / October 2018 www.cynulliad.cymru www.assembly.wales Gallwch weld copi electronig o’r ddogfen hon ar wefan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol: www.cynulliad.cymru/SeneddIechyd Y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru Bae Caerdydd CF99 1NA Ffôn: 0300 200 6565 E-bost: [email protected] Twitter: @SeneddIechyd © Hawlfraint Comisiwn Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru 2018 Ceir atgynhyrchu testun y ddogfen hon am ddim mewn unrhyw fformat neu gyfrwng cyn belled ag y caiff ei atgynhyrchu’n gywir ac na chaiff ei ddefnyddio mewn cyd-destun camarweiniol na difrïol. Rhaid cydnabod mai Comisiwn Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru sy’n berchen ar hawlfraint y deunydd a rhaid nodi teitl y ddogfen. An electronic copy of this document can be found on the National Assembly website: www.assembly.wales/SeneddHealth Health, Social Care and Sport Committee National Assembly for Wales Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA Tel: 0300 200 6565 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @SeneddHealth © National Assembly for Wales Commission Copyright 2018 The text of this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context. The material must be acknowledged as copyright of the National Assembly for Wales Commission and the title of the document specified. Cynnws | Contents * Saesneg yn unig | English only ** Cymraeg yn unig | Welsh only *** Ar gael yn ddwyieithog | Available bilingually Rhif | Sefydliad Organisation Number C01* Unigolyn An individual C02* Unigolyn An individual C03* Unigolyn An individual C04* Unigolyn An individual C05* Unigolyn An individual Y Gymdeithas Genedlaethol i The National Deaf Children's C06* Blant Byddar Society C07* Unigolyn An individual C08*** Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru (AGC) Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) C09*** Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru Social Care Wales C10* Hafal Hafal C11* Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol Cymru Royal College of Nursing C12* Vision 21 – Cyfle Cymru Vision 21 – Cyfle Cymru C13* Cyngor Bwrdeisdref Sirol Torfaen Torfaen County Borough Council Gwasanaethau Gwirfoddol C14* Glamorgan Voluntary Services Morgannwg C15* Solva Care Solva Care C16* Hospice UK Hospice UK C17* Cyngor Abertawe Swansea Council C18* Cymdeithas Alzheimers Cymru Alzheimers Society Cymru C19* Age Cymru Age Cymru C20* Unigolyn An individual C21* Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin Carmarthenshire County Council C22* Y Ganolfan Heneiddio Arloesol Centre for Innovative Ageing C23* Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr Cymru Carers Trust Wales Older People’s Commissioner for C24*** Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru Wales Papur ar y cyd rhwng Cyngor Sir Joint submission from Local Awdurdod Lleol Ceredigion, Authority Ceredigion County Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Council, Hywel Dda University C25* Dda, Tîm Sir Ceredigion, a Health Board, Ceredigion County Chymdeithas Sefydliadau Team, and the Ceredigion Gwirfoddol Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations C26* Cymdeithas Clefyd Motor Niwron MND Association C27* Gofalwyr Cymru Carers Wales Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Welsh Local Government Cymru a Chymdeithas C28* Association & Association of Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Directors of Social Services Cymru Cymdeithasol Cymru C29* Together for Short Lives Together for Short Lives C30* Mencap Cymru Mencap Cymru C01 Ymchwiliad i Effaith Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 mewn perthynas â Gofalwyr Inquiry into Impact of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 in relation to Carers Ymateb gan Unigolyn Response from an individual To whom it may concern. My name is , I live in . I noticed a short section in Thursday's South Wales Argus regarding an inquiry into support for carers in Wales. I myself was a carer for both my parents (who had Alzheimer's and vascular Dementia) for five years up until March of this year. I took voluntary redundancy in June 2015 to care for my Mother full time as I did not want her to go into a home. I am a member of the Alzheimers Society and the carers group Wales. I strongly believe family carers are undervalued and that without them NHS Wales and Social services would be in an even bigger crisis. I had carers to help my parents through the day, but no help from Social Services in the nights. Any breaks I had was paid for privately or was reliant on my brother travelling from London to give me a short break. I am in my fifties and fairly fit but some days and nights I felt totally drained and frustrated. I do not know how older people cope. I believe the carers allowance should at least be equal to those claiming unemployment benefit. I also believe there should be more help provided for night care for those in most need. I know that if I had not had these breaks and a good family to support me I would not have been able to care for my parents in their home environment. Although I am no longer caring for my parents who have both passed on, I still feel strongly that family carers are undervalued and need more support financially and physically. A short break re energises you and is good for both the carer and the person who is being cared for! I would be willing for this e mail to be used in the Senedd during the enquiring. Regards C02 Ymchwiliad i Effaith Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 mewn perthynas â Gofalwyr Inquiry into Impact of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 in relation to Carers Ymateb gan Unigolyn Response from an individual I like to think that I am a pretty strong person and I cope with pressure reasonably well. I do a lot of Voluntary Work with my three Therapy Dogs visiting School, Hospital and ironically Care Homes. I am very, very fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world and I don’t have to venture far to get to a beautiful place to spend time with my dogs on my own. She is probably the only one who would ever see the emotional impact that all this has on me. I have lovely neighbours who are very supportive. However I find that the time I can leave mum is getting shorter and shorter. There is no way that you could ask neighbours or even friends to deal with some of the personal issues for my mum that I have had to deal with over the last few months. I would never have believed that I could deal with them but I HAVE to, I have no choice. The sad thing is that whilst one tries not to let it, inevitably it affects the Mother/Daughter relationship. Some people can be Carers unfortunately I am not one of those I do it because I have no choice. BUT I WANT TO BE A DAUGHTER TO MY MUM NOT HER CARER. We have always been very close and I sincerely hope we will remain that way but all of this does have an impact. At the moment I do feel very constrained. I take the dogs out and am care free for all of about an hour and then the worry kicks in. I can no longer take a job as I fear I may be called home. It is not fair on employers. I like to do seasonal work it means I can fund my volunteering in school term and have a bit extra. I have had to cash in some of my savings to supplement my pension. My last holiday was in 2010 for my birthday. Even then there was the constant fear that something might happen at home. I am now contemplating selling Mums home (which as previously stated I own) to fund her going into a Care Home. This is a major decision as that house is a security blanket in different ways for both me and my Mum. I have been told that Respite Care is no longer an option offered by Social Services but the Crossroads Organisation seem to think that is not the case. I wish someone had told me about the provision that Social Services had made after Mums hospitalisation in 2014!!! I was in receipt of carers allowance but am no longer. In 2016 Mum went from paying no Council Tax to Full Council tax (minus 25% reduction for Single Occupancy) we found out that was due to the fact that owing to her long stay in hospital the balance of her Bank Account went over the threshold where she was eligible receive free Council Tax. On seeking advice from CAB we found that if I gave up my Carers Allowance Mum could get Pension Credit (savings) and therefore would qualify for the Council Tax reduction. I was lucky to be able to do this for my Mum and more than willing to do so, however that Carers Allowance was a big help whilst I had it. I do not feel that either my Mum or myself has had the best of services from the relevant Care Providers. I hope that my experience helps give you an insight from our prospective. I would like to think that we have been unfortunate and slipped through the “gaps” as it were but I suspect that there are many more like us. I also fear that there are many elderly people who are totally on their own with no one able to speak or fight for them and that is a very scary and sad thought. If this goes someway to help others in the future it was worth sending.