Date published: September 2, 2026

“She’s got her confidence back”: how Live More helped Maureen reconnect with life beyond dementia

Live More with Shared Lives is a pilot in Greater Manchester designed to support people living with dementia earlier, before families reach crisis point. By matching people with a Shared Lives carer who shares their interests, it helps people stay active, connected and part of their community while offering family carers regular, trusted support.

For Julie, the support came at a time when life had become increasingly overwhelming.

Her mum, Maureen, had always been active, independent and sociable. But after years of struggling to get answers about changes in her memory, Julie found herself trying to balance full-time work, family life and growing caring responsibilities.

“I was trying to juggle everything,” Julie said. “Work full time, have my own family, support Mum, and make sure she wasn’t just sat in the house all the time.”

“Thank goodness somebody listened”

Maureen moved into a self-contained annex beside Julie’s family home almost ten years ago after being widowed. The arrangement helped her stay independent while remaining close to family support.

At first, the changes in her memory were small. “You just notice little things,” Julie said. “Getting muddled up, forgetting things.”

Over several years, Julie repeatedly raised concerns with doctors, but struggled to get support or answers. “I kept saying, ‘She’s definitely getting worse,’” Julie said. “But it was always, ‘These things happen as people get older.’”

Eventually, after seeing a different GP, Maureen was referred to the Woodlands Memory Clinic, where she was diagnosed with moderate to severe dementia. Although the diagnosis was upsetting, Julie also felt relief. “It didn’t come as a shock,” she said. “I was like, ‘Thank goodness for that. Somebody’s listened.’”

By that stage, Maureen had become increasingly withdrawn and low in mood. “She didn’t want to do anything,” Julie said. “She stopped going out. She wasn’t as interactive with people anymore.”

The impact was being felt across the whole family. “Mum was asking everybody the same questions all the time,” Julie explained. “Everybody was feeling the impact of it.”

Finding Live More

After the diagnosis, Julie began trying to navigate what support was available. “There was loads of information,” she said. “But I felt it was me that had to reach out to everybody. Nobody was knocking on the door saying, ‘Right, this is what happens next.’”

A dementia specialist from the memory clinic eventually told Julie about Shared Lives and the Live More pilot. “She said there was this service that connected people with somebody suitable to them,” Julie explained. “That really stood out to me.”

Julie and Maureen had already tried some dementia groups and community activities, but Julie knew they were not quite the right fit. “She needed somebody to do things with her, not just sit in a group.”

A scheme worker from Salford Shared Lives visited Julie and Maureen at home to learn more about Maureen’s life, interests and personality. “He asked lots of questions about Mum,” Julie said. “Her family, where she was born, what she enjoyed doing.”

Julie explained the idea carefully to Maureen, who was initially hesitant. “I said, ‘It’s for you to have a friend, so you can go out and do more and feel safer going out.’”

Salford Shared Lives then matched Maureen with Cindy.

“There’s no stopping the pair of them”

Julie immediately felt reassured by Cindy’s warmth and approach. “She was really welcoming and fully engaged,” Julie said. “She said, ‘I’m here to enrich your mum’s life and make memories with her.’”

The first outing was short and gentle, helping Maureen build trust and confidence. After that, the relationship quickly grew. “Honestly, there’s no stopping the pair of them,” Julie said.

Since January, Cindy and Maureen have spent time together visiting Ordsall Hall, the Imperial War Museum, a local garden centre and the Coronation Street tour (see main picture). They go shopping together, visit cafés and attend Dancing with Dementia sessions.

Cindy has also supported Maureen to visit her brother in his care home. “She took a lovely picture of them holding hands,” Julie said. “They were both crying because they hadn’t seen each other for ages.”

For Julie, what matters most is that her mum is active and engaged again. “She’s got somebody that’s her friend,” she said. “Somebody different from me.”

Maureen now looks forward to Cindy’s visits every week. “It’s on the calendar,” Julie said. “She’s up and dressed at 6am every Monday because she knows Cindy’s coming.”

Although Maureen sometimes struggles to remember details afterwards, the enjoyment stays with her. “She comes home saying, ‘I’ve had a great time,’” Julie said. “She’ll say, ‘Me and Cindy went shopping today.’”

“It’s lifted the pressure off me”

As well as helping Maureen reconnect with the things she enjoys, the support has transformed life for Julie and her wider family. “It’s been a massive support to me,” she said. “I can’t praise how much it’s lifted the pressure off me.”

Before Live More, Julie felt responsible for making sure her mum always had something planned. “I felt under pressure that I had to take her out and do something every weekend,” she said.

Now, Cindy also helps with practical day-to-day support, including shopping trips, routine appointments and podiatry visits. “If there’s a routine appointment, Cindy does it,” Julie explained. “So I don’t have to keep taking time off work.”

For Julie, the impact goes far beyond logistics.“Everything just feels calmer,” she said.

The support has also allowed Julie to spend more time with her own family, including her new grandson. “It’s supported everybody,” she said. “Not just Mum. Me, my husband, my sons. It’s given me time back.”

Julie has also noticed changes in Maureen herself. “She’s more upbeat,” she said. “Sometimes she can remember something she’s done and tell us about it. It’s lovely to get that spark of conversation back.”