About 1 in 10 of the 45,000 people living in Buckinghamshire consider themselves to be a carer in some respect. This isn’t surprising, given our ageing population and the increasing help available to allow our relatives to live at home for longer. While it is obviously important to consider the needs of the cared for, making sure you have the support you need as a carer is equally important.
In Buckinghamshire, the county council, local charities and other organisations can help make life easier for you in your role as a carer, as well as supplying financial and physical assistance if you need it. Find out more about the support groups and services available in Buckinghamshire by reading on.
One way to help give carers a break is to seek respite care in Buckinghamshire; find out more by following the link.
Getting a Carer's Assessment in Buckinghamshire
You can often get a carer’s needs assessment at the same time as a care needs assessment from Buckinghamshire Council. A carer’s needs assessment aims to find out what the carer struggles with, what they would benefit from and where that help can come from. Anyone can get a carer’s needs assessment – providing they care for someone – no matter the type of care they provide, financial situation, level of support required or whether social care services are already involved or not.
A carer’s needs assessment will look at:
- What help you need with caring.
- The emotional and physical support you might benefit. from
- How caring affects life and wellbeing.
- Your health.
- What you balance with your role as a carer, including work/study/training/leisure/relationships/etc.
- Your goals as a carer.
- Your housing situation and future plans.
- Emergency planning.
All carer’s needs assessments are free and confidential. The outcome might decide that you are eligible for council support or even financial assistance to make your role as a carer easier. At the very least you will be signposted to local carer support groups, organisations, charities and services that might be relevant to you.
Accessing a Carer's Needs Assessment
There are a few different ways you can go about getting a carer’s needs assessment. As previously mentioned, if the person you care for is having a care needs assessment, you can ask that a carer’s needs assessment also be carried out at the same time.
You can also contact Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Councils to organise one.
Bucks Council
- Telephone: 01296 383204
- Email: [email protected]
Milton Keynes Council
- Telephone: 01908 253772
- Email: [email protected]
Carers Bucks and Carers Milton Keynes also offer advice and support for carers with an upcoming needs assessment, or those considering having one done. You can find their details below.
Finding Carer Support Groups and Services in Bucks
Social carer support groups and services can help you to find information, advice and people in similar roles to support, enrich and ease your role as a carer.
Carers Bucks and Carers Milton Keynes
Carers Bucks and Milton Keynes are independent charities started to help support unpaid carers in their respective areas. They offer advice, information and support through a trained support worker. You can access their services by visiting their offices or giving them a call. Registering will give you full access to their services.
Some examples of support, services, and benefits offered include a carer discount card scheme, free counselling, signposting to local services and regular social and information events. They also provide and run several services and groups on their own, which you can find listed below.
Buckinghamshire
- Telephone: 0300 777 2722
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Ardenham Court, Oxford Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8HT
- Visit the Carers Bucks Website
Support Offered:
This is a service aimed at those over 75 who still have a caring role and are struggling to manage their responsibilities. Through the service they can get access to a home visit from a support worker who guide and advise to ensure they are accessing everything they are entitled to.
Carers Bucks offers a variety of carer support groups all over the county, including sessions on stress, anxiety, depression and lasting power of attorney. The majority of these sessions are in-person events, however a handful are also run online via Zoom.
On every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, Carers Bucks puts on a choir group specifically for carers. Singing in a group is a great way to relieve stress and meet similar people. You can arrive at 10:15 for a coffee and a chat before the singing starts at 10:45 for an hour. The group meets at Chalfont St. Peter Community Centre, Gravel Hill, SL9 9QX. Contact the details above to get access.
- GP and Hospital Work
Carers Bucks works closely with Buckinghamshire Healthcare and local GP practices to help identify and support carers within their population of patients. Find more information about Carers Bucks’ GP Work and Hospital Work through their respective links.
Milton Keynes
- Telephone: 01908 231703
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Suite 1.05a, Challenge House, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 6DP
- Visit the Carers Milton Keynes Website
Support Offered:
Carers Milton Keynes prides itself on the range of carer support groups it provides. There are groups for people who share location, the disease of the person they look after, as well as groups which anyone can join to share information, experiences and offer peer advise, as well as a cup of tea! Find out more about the range of Carers Milton Keynes carer support groups.
Carers Milton Keynes prides itself on the range of carer support groups it provides. There are groups for people who share location, the disease of the person they look after, as well as groups which anyone can join to share information, experiences and offer peer advise, as well as a cup of tea! Find out more about the range of Carers Milton Keynes carer support groups.
Free and confidential counselling sessions are offered to all carers over the age of 18 who are registered with Carers MK. Carers will initially be offered six sessions, which last for one hour each and are on a weekly basis. The sessions take place at the Carers MK offices in Central Milton Keynes.
Alzheimers Society Support Groups
If the older person you care for is living with dementia, the Alzheimer Society charity has many carer support groups in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes to help support you. Follow the link to find all available groups and events in your area, or see the list of available support groups we’ve highlighted below!
Amersham Carer Support Group
- When? 1st Tuesday of each month, 10:30am - 12:00pm
- Where? Amersham Community Centre, Chilterns Lifestyle Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, HP6 5AH
- Telephone: 01296 718956
- Email: [email protected]
Aylesbury Online Carer Support Group
- When? 1st Tuesday of each month, 10:30am - 12:00pm
- Where? Delivered online
- Telephone: 01296 718956
- Email: [email protected]
Carer Support from Local Authorities
Both Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes Council have sections on their websites dedicated to carers. On these pages you can find what advice and support is offered by the council and other local organisations that might be able to help.
