Live More evaluation report

The independent evaluation report of Live More, a social care trial which supported people living with dementia and their families in Greater Manchester during 2025-26 found that spending time with Shared Lives carers improved wellbeing, helped people stay connected and helped prevent family carers reaching crisis.

The report found:
• better mood and wellbeing
• greater confidence, choice and independence
• stronger social connections and a sense of belonging
• people reconnecting with interests and parts of their identity
• family carers having more space to step back from practical caring tasks and simply be a partner or family member
• support that helped people remain at home for longer

It showed the value of acting early, before isolation, exhaustion or crisis take hold. It also estimated a strong return of nearly £6 of value for every £1 invested. Most of this came from better wellbeing. The rest came from cashable savings and cost avoidance, shared across councils, the NHS and families. By helping people remain well and supported at home for longer, it could also delay or prevent the need for residential care. This is positive news for us all, and for the wider health and social care system.

Rather than just measuring the final results, the evaluation focuses on understanding exactly how the project’s interventions led to its outcomes. This approach was experimental in nature, testing a range of approaches to evaluating early action and prevention, aimed at developing a rich evidence base that explored:

The impact and value of Shared Lives to people and families living with dementia, the wider community and health and care system.
The feasibility of establishing and implementing the approach.

The evaluation combined three approaches:

Storytelling – capturing people’s lived experience.
Process evaluation – interviews and evidence from people living with dementia, families, carers, schemes and strategic partners, led by Sanah Sheikh, an independent research and evaluation consultant.
Social Return on Investment – an independent economic evaluation led by Colligo Labs, using baseline and follow-up outcome data.

“Too often, families are given a diagnosis and information about dementia, but very little practical support to help them continue living well. Live More fills the space between diagnosis and crisis. It shows that early action does not need to limited to another clinical intervention or standardised programme. It can begin with something profoundly human: finding the right person, building trust and helping somebody continue doing the things that give their life meaning. This is good for people living with dementia, good for their families and potentially good for the health and care system. We now want to build on the evidence so that many more families can benefit.”

- Sarah McClinton, Chief Social Worker for Adults and Co-Chair Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework Task and Finish Group

Live More was developed through a partnership of Greater Manchester Directors of Adult Social Services, NHS Greater Manchester and Shared Lives Plus, working with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Dementia United and Shared Lives schemes across Greater Manchester.

“GM ADASS have been delighted to support the Live More initiative, with all 10 local authorities and partners in the voluntary and community sector, independent care sector and NHS and other partners. We have worked closely within a short timescale, to develop and test the potential of Shared Lives to support people living with dementia, and their families – early. The evaluation shows what can happen when we reach people early and start with the life they want to lead, rather than waiting until crisis point. Behind the figures are people going swimming again, repairing a neighbour’s gate or choosing where they want to go that day. Their husband, wife, son or daughter can take a breath, see a friend or simply stop worrying for a few hours. The relationship is the intervention. It is the careful matching, trust and consistent human connection that make the difference.”

- Rachel Tanner, Director of Adult Social Services in Bolton and Chair of Greater Manchester Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (GM ADASS)