A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND pensioner is struggling to cope after council chiefs slashed the time carers spend helping her.

May Williams, aged 77, of Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, has relied on carers employed by Carmarthenshire Council's social services department for the past 16 years. She has spinal problems, has suffered a heart attack and stroke and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease last year.

She had been receiving one hour morning visits and three half-hour visits a day to help her wash, dress, prepare meals and administer medicines.

But a new regime brought in last month saw her visits cut by half.

All along I've been having these half an hour visits and now they've changed it so I only get quarter of an hour," she said.

"To prepare for meals I'm now expected to put things ready but I can't handle a saucepan and a frying pan.

"I do try to help the carers but I can't and I shouldn't. What makes me annoyed is the managers at social services.

"I never see the same one twice and they say 'you should have this and that' but they haven't got the foggiest idea."

Miss Williams spent 18 years working West Wales Egg and Poultry and moved to Valley Services in Llandysul for another 27 years. Her only family is an 81-year-old sister in Carmarthen, who is also not in good health. claims that when she asked a manager how she could shower with her carers now only given three-quarters of an hour of help, she was told she must wash herself. The changes also mean carers will not have the time to carry out simple cleaning jobs like dusting, mopping the kitchen floor or peeling vegetables for supper.

Neighbour Meinir Ffransis said Miss Williams has received excellent care and gets on well with her carers but is now less able to do even simple tasks such as making a cup of tea.

"It is now, at this most vulnerable time, that social services have decided to halve the time allocated to help May in her home," she said.

"She is distraught and cannot see how she will be able to cope at a time when the authorities say they would like to see more elderly people staying in their own homes," she said.

Miss Williams added that she was worried about the impact the changes will have on her. She added: " It has affected me to be quite honest and I feel let down. Why can't they leave the things as they were?"

Council spokeswoman Debbie Williams said a review with Miss Williams this month had showed her needs were being met but also highlighted that some of the care package being provided was "superfluous".

The council added that should Miss Williams's circumstances change there will be another review of her needs and a further assessment of her care.