Respite Care in Buckingham: Costs, Funding and 17 Local Agencies (Oct 2026)

Your respite options

Respite at home: a few hours of visits, or a live-in carer for days or weeks while you are away.
Care home stay: usually one or two weeks, booked well ahead for holiday periods. There are 8 CQC-registered care homes in Buckingham; ask which take short stays.
Day centre: run by the council or a charity.

Start with a carer's assessment

If you look after someone, you are entitled to your own free carer's assessment from Buckinghamshire council, separate from the assessment of the person you care for. It looks at the effect caring has on you and can lead to funded breaks, a carer's personal budget or other support. Carers UK runs a free helpline on 0808 808 7777. Requesting an assessment from Buckinghamshire council.

If you are paying privately

Agencies: ask for the minimum visit length and the notice they need.
Care homes: ask whether rooms are kept for short stays, and visit before booking.
Before the stay: share the care plan, the medicines and the daily routine.

Buckingham's agencies in figures

15 of the 17 agencies (88%) list dementia as a specialism, against 85% across Buckinghamshire. The oldest current rating dates from June 2019 (South Northants Home Care Ltd). The newest registration is Great Horwood, registered with CQC in October 2025. Looking at specialisms, 15 of 17 list physical disabilities, 9 of 17 list learning disabilities and 11 of 17 list mental health conditions. Across Buckinghamshire we list 315 agencies, and 85% of those rated are Good or Outstanding; covering Buckingham the figure is 50%. Across Buckinghamshire, 8% of agencies have a rating under two years old; covering Buckingham it is 0%. Buckinghamshire has 4 Outstanding agencies, none of them covering Buckingham. Of Buckingham and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Buckingham ranks 7th for the share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (24%); Bicester is highest at 53%.

Paying for respite care in Buckingham: typical prices

Prices typically seen across England in 2026
Visiting care	around £32–£34 an hour
Live-in care	around £1,540–£1,610 a week
Residential care home	£1,555 a week
Nursing home	£1,830 a week

What the council pays (Buckinghamshire Council): £28.50 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,187.98 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,208.70 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).

The gap between agencies is bigger than the gap between regions. Ask for prices in writing, and check what weekends and bank holidays cost. The Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for council-funded home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?

What families ask about respite care in Buckingham

Where can I find respite care in Buckingham?

The CQC register does not show who offers respite care. There are 17 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Buckingham, 4 of them rated Good or Outstanding, so ask each one.

Can I get respite care for free?

It can be. If a carer's assessment from Buckinghamshire council finds you eligible, the council may arrange or pay for breaks, and carers' centres and charities run sitting services that are free or cheap.

How early do care homes need respite bookings?

Book weeks in advance, further ahead for school holidays, and check first that the home offers short stays at all.

Are home care agencies in Buckingham well rated?

4 of the 8 rated agencies (50%) are Good or Outstanding; 15 list dementia as a specialism and 0 were inspected or rated in the last two years.

Looking for respite care in Buckingham?

Fill in a single request; featured partners and up to 3 rated agencies that accept our enquiries reply straight to your inbox.

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Other care in Buckingham

Respite care around Buckingham

Respite care in Milton Keynes 9.5 mi
Respite care in Bicester 9.8 mi
Respite care in Bletchley 10.3 mi
Respite care in Aylesbury 14.3 mi
Respite care in Leighton Buzzard 15.0 mi
Respite care in Haddenham 15.8 mi
Respite care in Banbury 16.1 mi
Respite care in Cranfield 16.9 mi

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Source for provider details: CQC, Oct 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). The Care Panel is a comparison site, not a care company.

Respite care in Buckingham