Arranging care in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council is the unitary authority for a large part of the South East, covering Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Amersham, Marlow, Chesham, Beaconsfield and the historic market town of Buckingham, along with the many villages in between. Because it is a unitary authority, Buckinghamshire Council is responsible for adult social care across the whole county, so families only need to deal with one organisation rather than a separate county and district.
If you are starting to think about support for an older relative or someone with a disability, the first step is to contact Buckinghamshire Council's adult social care team and request a needs assessment. This assessment is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at what the person struggles with day to day, whether that is washing and dressing, mobility, medication or memory. If the assessment shows eligible needs, the council will then carry out a financial assessment to work out how much, if anything, the person contributes towards their care.
Choice of care across the county
The local care market is well established, with around 270 CQC registered care homes across Buckinghamshire. That gives families a genuine choice between residential care homes for people who mainly need help with daily living, nursing homes for those with more complex medical needs, and home care providers supporting people to stay in their own house in places like Marlow, Chesham or the villages around Aylesbury.
Paying for care
Funding usually comes from one of a few routes: full self funding, a council contribution based on the financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are primary, or NHS funded nursing care as a contribution towards nursing home fees. National capital thresholds apply when deciding who pays. As a general guide across Buckinghamshire, home care tends to sit at roughly £25 to £30 an hour, residential care homes commonly range from around £1,000 to £1,500 a week, and nursing homes are typically higher again given the clinical staffing involved.
Taking it one step at a time, starting with that free assessment from Buckinghamshire Council, usually makes the process feel far more manageable.
