I am caring for someone with dementia

Are you an unpaid carer in Buckinghamshire? It's time to 'Have Your Say!'

Buckinghamshire Council has been actively engaging with unpaid carers and professionals across the county to ensure the support provided truly meets their needs. This valuable feedback has been instrumental in shaping the new 'All-Age Carers Strategy'.

Now, they want to hear from you! Whether you are an unpaid carer, a professional, or a resident, your input is crucial. Have they identified the right priorities for carers? Do you feel the strategy addresses the most pressing issues? Complete the 'All-Age Carers Strategy' survey today and help shape the future of carer support in Buckinghamshire. With an estimated 55,000 carers across Buckinghamshire, your feedback can make a significant difference in the lives of carers and those they care for across the county.

Complete the 'All-Age Carers Strategy' survey here https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/integrated-commissioning/all-age-carers-strategy/

Get the support you need

It can be difficult to know where to get support as a carer.

View our carer's checklist for support and find out:

how to inform your work of your caring role
how to request a break from your caring role
about financial support

Carer's assessments

As a carer you can get advice, support and help from the council and other organisations. A carer’s assessment will identify the help you need. The assessment is free and confidential.

Request a carer's assessment.

Support groups in Buckinghamshire

Carers Bucks have a number of different support groups available across the county. They include tea and chats as well as information sessions to find out more about carer's assessments.

Café 22 at St Georges Church Hall hold weekly coffee mornings on Thursdays 10am to 12pm for those suffering with dementia and their carers. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Café 23 at Amersham Football Club Amersham, hold weekly coffee mornings on Wednesdays 10am to 12pm for those suffering with dementia and their carers. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Dementia Action Marlow run day activities for people with dementia and their carers or support groups for carers.

Wendover Dementia Support run a family support group to talk about common issues that carers come up against and how the team may be able to support you and the person you care for.

Day centres

Organising for the person you care for to attend a day centre is also a good way to give you a break from your caring role.

Safe Haven and Princes Centre provide day centres where people with dementia can go to remind them of things they may have enjoyed before their diagnosis such as bowls, singing, board games and baking.

Financial support

Find out about financial support that may be available to you as a carer or the person you care for.

End of life planning

Chiltern Compass works with other organisations involved in end of life care to provide an advisory service to you or your family.

The team are a group of active and retired healthcare professionals and spiritual leaders.

They carry out workshops, attend community events and provide resources to start difficult conversations about planning for end of life care.

Carers Bucks

Carers Bucks provides information, advice, guidance and emotional support to unpaid carers who are looking after a family member, friend, or neighbour who would struggle to manage independently without that support.

Carers Bucks supports unpaid carers throughout Buckinghamshire from age five to 95+, working closely with its sister charity, Carers Milton Keynes, health and social care and colleagues in the voluntary sector.

Carers Bucks has a core team of support workers who provide telephone and email support throughout the week and face-to-face support at its monthly carers support groups – this could be anything from emergency planning, information about assistive technology in the home, signposting to benefits advice, offering a listening ear and much more.

In addition, Carers Bucks has a team working within the four hospitals in Buckinghamshire which are, Stoke Mandeville, Wycombe, Amersham and Wexham Park. Their role is to provide practical and emotional support to carers whose loved-one is in hospital.

This includes advising on hospital processes and discharge planning as well as offering a safe, confidential space to discuss the caring role.

If you are a caregiver for a person living with dementia, there is a risk of something happening to you that will prevent you from communicating that you have a vulnerable person at home.

Keeping a completed emergency care plan connected to their digital medical record will provide easy access to this information.

Store an emergency care plan with MedicAlert.

For more contact:

Website: Carers Bucks

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0300 777 2722

Respite and hospital stays

If you need a break from your caring role, find out how we can help you organise respite care for the person you care for.

If you're planning for a stay in hospital or are currently in hospital, find out how to make sure the person you care for is supported in the meantime.