There are not enough care assistants in parts of Ceredigion, say officials

Aberystwyth and Cardigan in particular are short of care assistants and the county requires at least 50 new staff.

Officials say the problem is UK-wide and becoming worse.

In Wales, 23,287 people aged over 65 receive care at home from local authorities.

There are 468 in Ceredigion, part of the 600,000 in the UK who rely upon home carers.

Age Concern Cymru claimed that the profession was suffering from a staff shortage because earnings did not reflect the importance of the work.

Domiciliary care is normally under-staffed and it's getting worse Liz Cullen, Ceredigion Social Services

But Liz Cullen, a project development manager with Ceredigion Social Services, said the authority paid its staff "well over the minimum wage."

"In Aberystwyth we have 43 domiciliary staff and we require a further 20. In Cardigan we have 20 staff and we need a further 10," she said.

The personal care assistants play a vital role in helping pensioners and other adults with their day-to-day lives.

"Domiciliary care is normally under-staffed and it's getting worse," she added.

"We have a waiting list which varies in numbers. The people either have to go into residential care or hospital which contributes to the bed blocking problem.

"However, that isn't too much of an issue in Ceredigion.

"The private sector providers would easily require a further 20 care assistants throughout Ceredigion."

She explained that care assistants were usually women, aged between 38 and 42, who saw the profession as a stepping stone to something better.

Care assistants see their job as a stepping stone, says Mrs Cullen

"There's a clear career path for care assistants so we'd like people to take it up as a profession," she added.

"Other areas of Ceredigion such as Lampeter, Llandysul and Tregaron are fine - the problem is isolated."

Michael Phillips of Age Concern Cymru said care assistants had to be valued more.

"People working in homecare need to be valued more by society because of the crucial role they play in improving the quality of life for thousands of older people throughout Wales.

"Sadly, many homecare workers are only paid minimum wages which clearly does not reflect the importance of their work."

Latest figures from the Welsh Assembly Government show there are 71,485 pensioners in Wales who are receiving help in their homes from local authorities.