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9.1. Overview and Key Messages
This report considers the needs of the population aged between 18 and 64 who live in West Wales. A significant proportion of people in this age group will not be accessing care and support directly to address specific needs. However, they will benefit from general public health information and programmes aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles and reducing risks to their health brought about by factors such as smoking and obesity. More generally, adults in Wales will also benefit from combined approaches across sectors and within communities to improve the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of Wales in response to the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2016.
Where people within this age range have specific needs because of physical disability or chronic health conditions, proportionate, person-centred and responsive care and support may be required to help them achieve positive personal outcomes and live as independently as possible.
The report identifies a range of ‘accelerating factors’ within people’s environments that might increase the likelihood of them developing an ongoing health condition, or aggravate the effects of existing conditions, and against which mitigating action should be taken. These include unemployment, low wages and poor housing conditions.
Effective promotion of public health, targeted care and support for those with specific needs and more general support for people particularly at risk should combine to optimise the quality of people’s lives and their participation within their communities.
Supporting people to live active and healthy lives will reduce their needs for care and support and lead to improved outcomes at an individual and community level. The contribution of care and support services must be complemented by a range of collaborative approaches to improve people’s social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing.
Public Health has an important role in providing the population with general information and advice on healthy life choices and support in areas such as diet and smoking cessation. This needs to start in the early years but should be sustained where possible across the range of age groups.
9.2. Demographics and Trends
There are currently 219,606 people aged between 18 and 64 in West Wales. This equates to around 70% of the adult population across the region, with the proportion being slightly lower in Pembrokeshire at 68% and that in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion standing at 70% and 71%, respectively.
West Wales Population Assessment March 2017 Health and physical disabilities