To mark Shared Lives Week 2019, we are sharing the impact our Shared Lives carers have had on the people they support and their local areas.
Shared Lives is an alternative to home care and care homes for disabled adults and older people. After a period of getting to know each other, the person supported and their Shared Lives carer start to spend an agreed amount of time together. This can mean that the individual becomes a regular daytime or overnight visitor to the Shared Lives carer’s household, or that they live with the Shared Lives carer and their family. Shared Lives carers often say that the people they care for are just “one of the family”.
Becoming a Shared Lives carer is not only an opportunity to make a difference, but is also a paid role. Whether you choose to become a Shared Lives carer full time or offer your home and time for shorter periods of time is entirely your choice. However you choose to proceed, we will provide support every step of the way.
For many of our Shared Lives carers, providing support from their homes is a chance to help someone to learn new skills and even gain a member of the family.
Fe, who supported Jamie through MacIntyre Shared Lives said;
“Jamie has become a member of our family. He participates in our family events, such as birthdays and christenings. He has also been on holiday with us.”
Alongside her partner Doug, Fe supported Jamie to make positive changes in his life and become more independent. Through their support, Jamie is able to navigate bus routes to and from work, adopt basic cooking skills and manage his money.
She added
“During his time with us he become adopted Uncle to our four grandchildren who he enjoys spending time with during his visit to us. Supporting Jamie has come with ups and downs but we wouldn't change any of it. We love having Jamie in our lives and he is now part of the family.”
