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Buckinghamshire launches pilot scheme to support elderly carers (24 August 2016)

Date: 24/08/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Buckinghamshire launches pilot scheme to support elderly carers

Buckinghamshire County Council has announced that hundreds of elderly carers who look after vulnerable family members at home are to be supported by a groundbreaking new pilot project.

The council will launch funding for the scheme in Aylesbury in September, in a pilot which will support 300 carers aged 75 or over.

The aim of the initiative – run by local charity Carers Bucks – is to offer elderly carers expert guidance on financial support, friendship groups – and how they and their loved ones stay well and active. They will also be supported to get further help if needed.

Chairman of the County Council's Greater Aylesbury Local Area Forum, Brian Roberts, explained:

“We know there are hundreds of elderly carers in the Aylesbury area who are looking after relatives suffering from ill health.

“Carers are the unsung heroes in our communities, toiling day-to-day to look after their loved ones, without any consideration for their own health or wellbeing. This means they often become ill themselves or become socially isolated.

“We feel that some additional support could make all the difference – and that’s why our Local Area Forum agreed to allocate £7,000 to this great initiative.”

Carers Bucks’ Chief Executive Stephen Archibald added:

“We are really pleased to have been awarded the funding from the Aylesbury Local Area Forum for our Caring for Older Carers project.

“Through this service, we will now be able to provide dedicated face-to-face contact and support to carers over 75 who are caring for a loved one – and who themselves may have health problems or struggle to cope.

“Trained support staff will visit the carers at home and work with them – and provide the help and advice necessary to enable them to continue in their caring role for as long as possible.”

The Carers Bucks support staff will contact carers and arrange home visits –
or offer support sessions such as telephone support, group support, email, texting and Skype.

Staff are trained in motivational interviewing techniques, which help carers look at their situation afresh and develop strategies to improve their wellbeing.

They also promote simple mindfulness techniques to help with low-level depression and anxiety.

Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, Martin Phillips, said:

“It’s very important that we provide this type of support – there are so many people in our community battling heroically to keep their families afloat, but the cost to their own health is often immense.

“It makes sense from both a caring point of view, as well as a financial one, to nip their problems in the bud wherever we can, by giving them the extra help that they might never know they need, but which could make all the difference.

“The council can help through our tried and tested Prevention Matters scheme, which has proven that early intervention really does work.”

Duncan Lewis Family Lawyers

Duncan Lewis family lawyers can advise on a wide range of family law, including care of elderly or vulnerable family members, Court of Protection cases, Lasting Power of Attorney (health and medical care, or wealth and finances), and wills and trusts.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis offers competitively fixed fees whenever possible.

Our family law team is also able to advise on divorce, separation, or dissolution of a civil partnership, as well as advising on child care matters.

For expert legal advice on family law, including care of the elderly, call Duncan Lewis family lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

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