**Carmarthenshire’s Elderly Carers Taking on Heavy Workload as Care Demands Soar**
An increasing number of carers in their seventies are continuing to work for Carmarthenshire Council, undertaking more rigorous workloads than many of their NHS counterparts, according to a senior local official. Jake Morgan, director of the council’s community services, has highlighted the tireless efforts of home carers, many of whom help some of the county’s frailest and most vulnerable residents to live independently in their own homes.
These domiciliary carers—some already claiming their state pensions—are responsible for a broad range of personal care activities each day. Their work includes helping residents get out of bed, assisting with washing and dressing, providing meals, and in certain cases, administering medication. Mr Morgan praised what he called an “amazing group of people”, noting that a number of staff are veterans in the sector, many now well into their seventies.
Addressing the council’s health and social services scrutiny committee, Mr Morgan made it clear that the work undertaken by council-employed home carers is both strenuous and demanding. In terms of workload, Mr Morgan said that local authority carers perform “substantially” more visits on their rounds than their equivalents within the NHS—a fact that underscores a growing pressure on the social care sector. He did not specify the exact pay levels but stated that Carmarthenshire pays “well above the market rate” for domiciliary care work, with carers earning the equivalent of NHS healthcare assistants. However, he was keen to point out that, despite these efforts, care roles remain “inherently undervalued”.
Recruitment remains a persistent challenge for local authorities across the UK. Nationally, demand for home-based care continues to rise, while the supply of care workers fails to keep pace. This is true in Carmarthenshire, where private and independent sector providers undertake the majority of domiciliary care (about 71%), leaving the council with a 29% share—a proportion which has been declining, even as the council strives to achieve a more equal balance.
Mr Morgan attributes the larger role of independent providers to their capacity for quicker responses to temporary government funding and their flexibility in recruitment. “Private sector care providers can rapidly increase their workforce to match short-term funding”, he noted, whereas local councils tend to cater for individuals with more complex needs or those residing in remote rural areas. This, he explained, can make council rounds less efficient than those in urban centres.
Another marked difference in working conditions is that many private-sector care staff are not paid for the first half or even a full day of sickness, contributing to lower recorded sickness rates within those firms. Mr Morgan conceded that whilst Carmarthenshire Council’s approach of paying workers during sick leave results in higher sickness rates of up to 8%, it is, in his view, “a good thing” and indicative of a more supportive working environment.
To bolster staffing, the council continues to recruit new carers, partly through its “Care Academi”, which offers comprehensive training in home care, residential care, and broader social care skills. The demand remains high: currently, approximately 1,000 residents are receiving a total of 11,700 hours of domiciliary care each week. The council has, however, achieved notable successes in reducing waiting times for those needing care, largely through short-term Welsh Government funding aimed at speeding up hospital discharges, and by commissioning additional service providers.
Despite these advancements, future funding uncertainties persist. With a recent Welsh Government grant now ended, council leaders are still waiting for clarification on new sources of support and what restrictions might apply. Mr Morgan acknowledged this frustration, saying: “We’ve got an awful lot of plans but we just can’t press the button” due to the delays.
This situation paints a picture of a social care sector facing unrelenting pressures and a workforce—often older and carrying an ever-heavier burden—whose value is still battling for appropriate recognition. While the council is taking measures to support staff and residents, and is making progress in reducing waiting times for care, challenges of recruitment, funding, and adequate recognition remain at the fore.
As Wales and other UK regions grapple with growing care needs and an ageing population, Carmarthenshire’s experience is emblematic of the resilience and determination shown by many in the sector—particularly those who ought, by rights, to have retired, but are instead stepping up to meet the ever-increasing demand for help within their communities.
For many, it is not only a job but a vital lifeline for some of the most vulnerable, reminding us of the indispensable role carers continue to play across society.