Carers' relationships affected by role

The relationships of a number of carers in Wales are suffering as a result of the responsibility that the role entails, a new study suggests.

An online survey conducted as part of National Carers Week - which runs from June 11th to June 17th - has revealed that the relationships of two-thirds of Welsh carers have been affected because of their work. Of the respondents to the survey who said that this was the case for them, six out of ten said that they were missing out on quality time with their partners, the BBC reports.

Moreover, those participants whose relationships are affected said that when they do get the opportunity to relax, they use the time to do chores (27 per cent) or to sleep (23 per cent).

Doris Dalimore, of the Bridgend Carers Centre, commented: "Carers in Wales really are unsung heroes. Their hard work is unpaid and their own needs often go unnoticed. We know of approximately 350,000 carers in Wales, but many others struggle alone and do not realise that help is available to them. Carers Week aims to raise greater awareness of the support and encourage people to access it."

There are an estimated six million UK-based carers, according to figures from Carers UK, and half of them do paid work as well as look after an ill, frail or disabled fiend or relative.