Milton Keynes – A guide for the elderly

In this elderly guide to Milton Keynes, find all you need to know to enjoy your local community regardless of age and disabilities. Read on for a detailed list of senior social groups, accessible day trips and activities, local pharmacies, community transport, and more. 

What services are available to the elderly in Milton Keynes?

Elderly people living in Milton Keynes have a wide variety of community services, events, and social groups available to support them in their later years of life. As we age, it’s important for seniors to remain connected to their community, learn new skills, and meet new people. If you or a loved one require live-in care in Milton Keynes, the following services for elderly people can help you get a good idea of the support available to thrive in their local area and live a happier and healthier life.     

See this Milton Keynes Directory for a comprehensive list of the services and support available to people over 50 in Milton Keynes.

Social groups for seniors and adults with care needs in Milton Keynes

EYE for ART Club

This club offers arts and crafts opportunities for visually impaired adults living in Milton Keynes. EYE for ART meets monthly at Inter-Action MK and costs £10 per year as well as other small fees per session. Socialise with other like-minded people and enjoy a new hobby, from card making and weaving to kitting and even museum visits. The venue is wheelchair accessible and there are disabled toilets. Email rpatching@yahoo.co.uk or call 01908 631458 for more information.

COGS Clubs

The COGS Club offers weekly sessions of MCST (Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy) for older people with early dementia. Held in a caring, supportive environment, members participate in stimulating activities that are proven to help maintain memory and mental function. COGS meet in small groups of up to ten, allowing members to socialise and build new friendships. It costs £10 per person and meets in two-hour sessions on a Wednesday at The Peartree Centre. For more information, call 01908 550700 or email info@ageumiltonkeynes.org.uk.

Men In Sheds MK

This group is primarily for older men, although women and those of younger ages are free to join as well. Men In Sheds aims to fight against isolation in elderly people and to improve overall well-being and health. They work in Kil Farm in Milton Keynes, providing a workshop, tools, and equipment for members to do woodwork, metalwork, and model work (aircraft and railway models). The shed is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Wednesday evenings from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, and Sunday mornings from  9:00 am – 12 pm. Feel free to visit the shed during opening hours, call 01908 267126, or email info@meninshedsmk.org.uk for more information.

Friendship Club

The Friendship Club offers once-a-week sessions where older people can socialise in a safe and secure environment. They provide companionship, light refreshments, and several activities. Call 01908 550700 if you would like to join or for more information. 

Snack and Chat café

Age UK opens a Snack and Chat café in their office in Central Milton Keynes from 10 am – 2 pm, Monday through Friday. They offer tea, coffee, meals, and snacks while providing advice and information on the services and products available to those over their 50s. The Age UK Knit and Natter group also meets during these times, making it the perfect time to socialise and meet new people. 

Age UK Milton Keynes Computer Training

Age UK also offers beginner computer classes for elderly people. This is a great way to learn a new and increasingly necessary skill. This rolling programme of computer support sessions is taught in one-hour classes and in small groups of up to three people. Call  01908 550700 or 01908 240450 for more information.

Friday Trotters

This walking group meets every other Friday in various locations across Milton Keynes. The walks are circular and delivered at gentle paces if needed. The walks pass through rest stops, pubs or cafes, and areas with toilets. Contact Jan at 01908 253154 for more information.

Milton Keynes Lunch Clubs

There are a variety of lunch clubs in Milton Keynes that offer older people a chance to meet new people and those of similar cultures and religions. Transport can often be provided. Some lunch clubs include:

• Age Uk Milton Keynes Lunch Club – Call 01908 550700 or 01908 557873 and email  info@ageukmiltonkeynes.org.uk for more.
• Conniburrow: Cameo Luncheon Club – Expect a meal, fellowship, board games, and entertainment all in a Christian setting. See their website for more: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/milton-keynes
• Dosti Lunch Club – This lunch club offers a vegetarian meal for older Asian people at the Guildhall, City Church. Contact Mr Bhabutta at 01908 604391.
• Ksi Muslim Community Of MK – Find a halal meal after prayers at the Zainabia Islamic Centre. Contact Kassam Ali Ravjani at 01908 644988.
• Milton Keynes African & Caribbean Lunch Club – They meet at the Old Bath House Community Centre for friendship, activities and lunch every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Contact Elaine at 01908 376713.
• Milton Keynes Irish Welfare Support Group – Meeting at Manor Fields, this club offers lunch and tea, games, exercises, and friendship. Contact 07986 089898 or mkiwsg@hotmail.com for more.

Accessible day trips and outings for the elderly in Milton Keynes

As we age it becomes more important to introduce new activities and engaging events into our daily schedule. Be it gentle morning walks or stimulating trips to museums and historical sites, mixing up your routine has great benefits, and can positively impact both your physical and mental health. 

In Milton Keynes, there are plenty of accessible day trips and outings that the elderly and those living with disabilities can enjoy.

• A day out in the Theatre District – Found in the heart of Milton Keynes, the Theatre District is a collection of accessible clubs, bars, and restaurants. A majority of the restaurants are at ground level and the close proximity allows those with mobility issues to move around easily. There are disabled toilets as well as a disabled parking bay nearby.
• Milton Keynes Museum – Soak up history by visiting the extensive displays at this museum. It overlooks the development of the North Buckinghamshire and South Northamptonshire area that culminates with the creation of Milton Keynes in the 1960s – the UK’s “largest and last new city.” You can expect to find accessible toilets, ramped and sloped access as well as manual doors, large print on the displays and more.

 

• Bletchley Park – This English country house and estate is the main location of the WWII code-cracking effort and is now a stunning museum with various huts and exhibitions. You can expect several disabled parking spaces, wheelchairs for hire at the visitor centre, as well as visual and hearing aids.
• Emberton Country Park – This lovely park is open year-round and offers natural scenery, wildlife, gentle walks, four lakes, and a cafe. There are accessible toilets and the paths along the park are surfaced with easy and moderate slopes.

Disabled Parking in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is known for its grid-road system, and many seniors can drive much more easily here than in other towns and cities. Aside from traffic, the main concern for many elderly people and disabled drivers is parking. Luckily, there are a number of disabled parking bays in Milton Keynes, and those with Blue parking badges can park for free in most bays – the only exception being in permit bays, resident-only bays, and privately owned car parks. 

Find the locations of disabled bays in this Central Milton Keynes Parking Guide. Disabled bays are marked in yellow.

Garden centres in Milton Keynes:

• Frosts Garden Centre
• Thrift Farm Garden Centre
• Buckingham Nurseries & Garden Centre
• Cherry Lane Roman Way
• Alban Hill Nurseries

Local Milton Keynes Pharmacies:

• LloydsPharmacy -in the Sainsbury’s on Witan gate
• Superdrug Pharmacy – on Woolworths Dev, Midsummer Arcade
• Boots – on Crown Walk
• Boots Pharmacy – on Bradwell Common Blvd
• Peak Pharmacy – on Fishermead Blvd
• Jardines Pharmacy – on Twoer Cres
• Chapharm Chemist – on Swinden Ct
• ASDA Pharmacy – Bletcham Way
• Jardines Pharmacy – on Dulverton Dr

Local hospital:

Milton Keynes University Hospital – Located in the Eaglestone neighbourhood, this district general hospital serves Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas including north Buckinghamshire, south Northamptonshire, and north-west Bedfordshire.

Community Transport in Milton Keynes

Concessionary Bus Fares 

Public transport in Milton Keynes offers access and provisions for disabled people, including concessionary rates on the conventional bus service for the elderly and disabled people. There is free local bus travel after 9:30 am for seniors and disabled people, and you can find the applications to join this scheme in the Civic Offices in Central Milton Keynes. Call 01908 252558 for more information. 

Plus Bus

There is also support for seniors living in Milton Keynes who have difficulties using public transport or have severe mobility issues. The Milton Keynes Council funds the Plus Bus which offers door-to-door transport in vehicles that are wheelchair accessible, able to take scooters, and with drivers who have undergone disability awareness, passenger assistance and safety training. Email MK@ECTCharity.co.uk for more information and call 01908 266950 to book. 

Personal Budget for Transport Scheme

This scheme allows those with mobility issues to travel more independently, be it to visit friends, go to a hairdresser, or attend a doctor’s appointment. To join this scheme you must be unable to access public transport, registered blind or severely sight impaired, or in receipt of War Pensions Mobility Supplement. For new applications, please call 01908 254712.

 

For more information, advice, and guidance for elderly people and those living with disabilities, see the Milton Keynes Survival Guide. If you would like to learn more about living independently with the assistance of a local carer, explore our Milton Keynes live-in care services here.