Live more: growing Shared Lives for people living with dementia and their families

Staying connected and active is crucial for people with dementia; and family carers also need regular breaks. This programme aims to support the Government’s mission to support a shift from hospital to community, and from treatment to prevention.

‘Live more’ will give people living with dementia the chance to access Shared Lives day support and experience the same benefits as Val (pictured left above with one her Shared Lives carers, Lisa, right).

Val, 84, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago and lives with her husband Tony, 87, who took on all household tasks as Val’s condition progressed. A year after her diagnosis, they were introduced to Shared Lives Moray, where Val was matched with Ann, a Shared Lives carer who shares her love of coffee outings, shopping, and gardening. The connection was so positive that Val was later matched with a second carer, Lisa, for an additional day each week.

For Val, these visits offer a chance to reconnect with her interests and maintain her independence. “We have a laugh and enjoy each other’s company,” she says, describing her time with Ann and Lisa as ‘like meeting up with old friends’. Meanwhile, Tony has time to rest and focus on his own wellbeing: “I can relax and enjoy some time to myself without worrying what Val is up to,” he says. “I know she is in safe hands when she is with her Shared Lives carers.”

The new ‘Live more’ programme will ensure more people like Val are identified and referred into Shared Lives. They will be matched with a Shared Lives carer who provides day support once a week for several months. The programme will also connect and support local schemes, sharing learning and evaluating impact at a national scale to shape the future of Shared Lives dementia care.

If your scheme/area is interested in participating in our ‘Live more’ national dementia programme, please contact us at consultancy@sharedlivesplus.org.uk .

If you feel inspired by Val, Lisa and Ann’s story and would be interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer, please visit www.startyoursharedlife.today .