“I’ve still got a lot more to give”: how Linda is supporting people to live well with dementia through Live More

Linda has been a Shared Lives carer with Bolton Cares, which runs the local Shared Lives scheme, since the mid-1990s. Over the years, she has supported people with a learning disability through respite, day support and long-term arrangements, including one person who lived with her for 15 years.

Before that, she worked in a day centre and in supported living but found that work limiting. A friend already involved in Shared Lives encouraged her to try it, highlighting that she could support people from her own home and shape the support around real life.

She had also supported people living with dementia earlier in her career, so when her Shared Lives coordinator, Lesley, approached her about the Live More pilot, she didn’t hesitate.

“I thought it was really good,” she said. “It gives the carer a bit of a break, but it also gives the person themselves something to do outside of the home, in a different environment.”

At the time, Linda had some free time and wanted to use it well. “I’d rather use it doing something useful,” she said.

Linda was matched with Gareth, who is in the early stages of dementia and lives with his wife, Pat. They first met at Gareth and Pat’s home, alongside Lesley, where they talked about his interests, his health and the kinds of things he enjoys doing. Pat was understandably cautious at first, but the match quickly proved to be the right one.

Lesley knew Linda well – the kinds of people she supports and the activities she enjoys – and felt she and Gareth would suit each other. “I’m quite an active person,” Linda said. “And Gareth is quite active as well.”

Now, they spend time together each week, doing a mix of activities depending on the weather and how Gareth feels. They go swimming regularly, visit museums, and travel across Greater Manchester using buses, trains and the tram.

But for Linda, how they do things matters just as much as what they do. “We go swimming, but we swim together,” she said. “I don’t sit on the side watching him. He feels more included in it.”

Using public transport is also an important part of the experience. “If we go on public transport, it takes a bit longer, but we’ve got the opportunity for a conversation,” she said. “He’s still feeling more independent, more in with the community.”

It also helps Gareth reconnect with people and places. “There’s other people… that have recognised him and spoke to him while we’ve been out and about,” she said.

Together, they decide what to do each week. “I’ll say, ‘what shall we do next week? Do you fancy this?’” Linda said. “I go for things that I think will suit him.”

They’ve visited the military museum – something Gareth particularly enjoyed as a former member of the Navy – and the National Football Museum. When the weather improves, they’re planning trips to local markets and gardens.

Linda sees the impact of that time together in simple but important ways. Gareth, who used to be very active, now has mobility issues. Swimming gives him a way to stay active. “It gives him that movement without the pressure,” she said.

He also enjoys getting out and trying new places. “He does say something good when he’s done it,” she said.

For Pat, the difference is just as important. “I think it gives her a bit of free time to do something she wants to do,” Linda said. That might be something small – a trip to the shops, an appointment, or simply time to herself – but it matters. Linda also keeps things flexible, changing days when needed to fit around Pat’s life.

For Linda, the role is as much about what it brings to her life as it is about the people she supports. “I’ve still got a lot more to give, and I’m not quite ready for giving up yet,” she said.

After years of full-time work, Shared Lives offers a way to keep doing something meaningful, at a pace that works for her. “You can wind down, but you’re still doing something useful,” she said. “I enjoy what I’m doing, and I’ll carry on while I can.”

Linda believes more Shared Lives carers could support people living with dementia, particularly in the early stages. As part of Live More, Shared Lives carers are offered training and ongoing support to help them feel confident.

Linda, who has supported people for many years, felt she could draw on her existing experience – but says the right support is essential, particularly as dementia progresses. “Some people are affected in different ways,” she said. “You’ve got to understand those behaviours to be able to cope with them.” She stays in regular contact with Lesley, who checks in and offers support when needed.

For Linda, the approach works because it focuses on people earlier – before support needs become more complex – and builds around what matters to them. “It gives them something to do, somewhere to go,” she said.

As Live More grows, we need more people like Linda to step forward. You don’t need formal experience – just time, patience and an interest in people. With the right support, you can help people stay connected to the things that matter, while giving families a break they can rely on.

Find out more: Live More: growing Shared Lives for people living with dementia and their families.

Please note: This story is illustrated using an image from the Centre for Ageing Better image library and does not feature the people described in the story.