December 12, 2024
National report highlights Shared Lives as the future of housing for older people
A PSS Shared Lives arrangement has been highlighted as a case study in a national study from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce (OPHT), commissioned by the UK government.
Our Future Homes: Housing that Promotes Wellbeing and Community for an Ageing Population shines a light on how community-based approaches like Shared Lives can make a real difference in tackling the housing and care needs of older people.
L-R: Former chief exec, Lesley Dixon, Chair of OPHT Julienne Meyer, supported person Sue, registered service manager Bob Bell, and Shared Lives carer Jacqui Gibson
Professor Julienne Meyer CBE, chair of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce (set up in part by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2023) paid a visit to PSS Shared Lives carer, Jacqui Gibson and the person she supports, Sue, last year. Julienne wanted to find out more about the difference Shared Lives had made to Sue, since she joined her arrangement in Liverpool in 2009. Learning from Sue’s and Jacqui’s arrangement helped Julienne to understand how else it might benefit other older people across the country.
In the report it reads:
Over the years, [Sue’s] life has seen remarkable improvement. Despite occasional bouts of low mood and ongoing health challenges, with the support of the Shared Lives carer and her family, [she] is able to manage these times well. Embracing her journey she finds solace and assistance from her Shared Lives carer. [Sue] has a great sense of humour and is continuing to live happily with the same family in her later life. ‘
‘Embracing her journey she finds solace and assistance from her Shared Lives carer.’
The report talks about a problem lots of older people are facing: they’d like to live more independently in a home that’s more accessible for their needs but the options are really limited and unaffordable. Shared Lives gets a big tick when it comes to breaking down these barriers because it creates spaces where older people can connect, stay independent, and enjoy living in multi-generational households.
It also highlights the importance of giving people choice and a sense of belonging, saying:
‘…We need to promote the development of a greater range of community-led housing options (e.g., co-housing and Shared Lives) – where senior citizens share their homes or neighbourhoods with people of their own choice and sometimes of all ages.’
Shared Lives is about sharing your home, your daily life, even your favourite spot on the couch, just like you would with family – so we make sure that both the carer and the person we support gets a say in who they’re matched with.
We’re over the moon to see that Shared Lives has had the recognition is deserves as a truly life changing form of community-led social care for older people. The beauty of Shared Lives is that it’s flexible enough to work for lots of different people with different needs from the age of 18 and up. Find out more about how Shared Lives can support you here.
Become a Shared Lives carer
If you’d like to find out more about being a Shared Lives carer where you live visit our other website www.sharedlivescarers.com.