Key findings from the report include:

• Delayed Identification: 36% of carers took over three years to be identified in their caregiving role, undermining the Act’s aim of early intervention and preventive support.
• Lack of Accessible Information: Only 47% of carers had access to relevant information, and fewer than a third (31%) received advice between April 2023 and March 2024.
• Community Support Gap: Although 58% of carers were aware of available community support, only 26% were able to access it, often due to time constraints as a result of their caring role.
• A critical lack of Carers Needs Assessments being carried out: Despite a legal right to these assessments, only 6% of carers accessed them in the past year, with waiting times extending up to 162 days in some regions.

The effect of this on unpaid carers is stark. Nearly 1 in 3 (31%) unpaid carers feel disillusioned with Carers Needs Assessments or believe that an assessment would not help them with their caring role.

This is despite research from the Centre for Care showing that the care provided by unpaid carers in Wales would cost the Welsh Government over £10 billion per year to replace.

The report calls for action from the Welsh Government, local authorities and health boards, including:

1. Action and Implementation Plan: The Welsh Government should establish a fully co-produced plan with unpaid carers and carer organizations by Carers Rights Day 2025 to monitor and ensure effective implementation of the Act across Wales.
2. Improved Carer Identification and Information Dissemination: Health settings like GP surgeries and hospitals should play a stronger role in identifying carers early and providing consistent access to information and resources.
3. Standardized Carer Needs Assessments: A consistent framework across local authorities will help carers access assessments without regional inconsistencies and empower them with clear information on available resources and rights.

Mae canfyddiadau allweddol yr adroddiad yn cynnwys:

• Oedi o ran Adnabod: Cymerodd 36% o ofalwyr dros dair blynedd i gael eu hadnabod yn eu rôl gofalu, gan danseilio nod y Ddeddf o ymyrraeth gynnar a chymorth ataliol.
• Diffyg Gwybodaeth Hygyrch: Dim ond 47% o ofalwyr oedd â mynediad at wybodaeth berthnasol, a llai na thraean (31%) a gafodd gyngor rhwng Ebrill 2023 a Mawrth 2024.
• Bwlch Cymorth Cymunedol: Er bod 58% o ofalwyr yn ymwybodol o’r cymorth cymunedol sydd ar gael, dim ond 26% oedd yn gallu cael mynediad ato, yn aml oherwydd cyfyngiadau amser o ganlyniad i’w rôl ofalu.
• Diffyg critigol o Asesiadau Anghenion Gofalwyr yn cael eu cynnal: Er gwaethaf hawl gyfreithiol i’r asesiadau hyn, dim ond 6% o ofalwyr a gafodd fynediad atynt yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, gydag amseroedd aros yn ymestyn hyd at 162 diwrnod mewn rhai rhanbarthau.

Mae effaith hyn ar ofalwyr di-dâl yn amlwg. Mae bron i 1 o bob 3 (31%) o ofalwyr di-dâl yn teimlo wedi'u dadrithio ag Asesiadau Anghenion Gofalwyr neu'n credu na fyddai asesiad yn eu helpu gyda'u rôl ofalu.

Mae hyn er gwaethaf ymchwil gan y Ganolfan Gofal sy’n dangos y byddai’r gofal a ddarperir gan ofalwyr di-dâl yng Nghymru yn costio dros £10 biliwn y flwyddyn i Lywodraeth Cymru ei adnewyddu.

Mae’r adroddiad yn galw am weithredu gan Lywodraeth Cymru, awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd, gan gynnwys:

1. Gweithredu a Chynllun Gweithredu: Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru sefydlu cynllun wedi’i gydgynhyrchu’n llawn gyda gofalwyr di-dâl a sefydliadau gofalwyr erbyn Diwrnod Hawliau Gofalwyr 2025 i fonitro a sicrhau bod y Ddeddf yn cael ei rhoi ar waith yn effeithiol ledled Cymru.
2. Gwell Canfod Gofalwyr a Lledaenu Gwybodaeth: Dylai lleoliadau iechyd fel meddygfeydd ac ysbytai chwarae rhan gryfach wrth nodi gofalwyr yn gynnar a darparu mynediad cyson at wybodaeth ac adnoddau.

Asesiadau Safonol o Anghenion Gofalwyr: Bydd fframwaith cyson ar draws awdurdodau lleol yn helpu gofalwyr i gael mynediad at asesiadau heb