Growing Shared Lives for people living with dementia: Mandy and Sandra
‘Live more’ will enable people living with dementia to access Shared Lives on a day support basis and experience the amazing benefits that Mandy (pictured right, with her Shared Lives carer Sandra, left) has daily.
Mandy and her Shared Lives carer Sandra are supported by Shared Lives Wiltshire and have been living together for two years. Alongside family life, Mandy attends four different clubs throughout the week, keeping her connected and living independently in her local community.
Mandy was diagnosed as living with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2023. When Mandy first came to Sandra she was able to do many tasks such as making her own breakfast, but as the dementia progressed she has required more support. Sandra helps Mandy to retain life skills and be independent as part of a routine and be that extra pair of hands to guide her.
Sandra says, “Mandy’s journey is inspiring. She openly talks about her dementia, sharing her feelings and experiences, which helps her navigate the changes. Dementia affects everyone differently, and there’s no single path forward. Progress takes time, but openness, patience, and meaningful connections make a real difference.
“I am an experienced carer, but Mandy also helps me have a different insight on her journey with dementia, as previously I have only worked with people in later stages of dementia. I am always learning new skills and adapting to change for us both and her family.”
Mandy enjoys getting her nails done with Sandra, and having nice hair and make up – Sandra brings these joys of life for Mandy and they often go out shopping together. During the evenings after Mandy’s various clubs they have dinner together and interact with family. Mandy appreciates all the support and said “Sandra treats me like an adult!”
Sandra says that Shared Lives “is a way of life”, a challenging but rewarding role in the community that has changed her own life, making her feel proud and privileged to be a Shared Lives carer. She feels well supported by Shared Lives Wiltshire who complete regular reviews to monitor and support the whole household. “It is not a scary thing to care for someone living with dementia, as I know some people believe,” says Sandra.
The new ‘live more’ national programme will ensure more people living with dementia like Mandy are identified and referred into Shared Lives; they will be matched carefully with a Shared Lives carer who will provide a day of support once a week over a period of several months. The national programme will support and link work across local schemes, so learning can be shared and evaluated at a large scale to pave the future of Shared Lives care for people living with dementia going forward.
If your scheme is interested in taking part in ‘Live more’, contact us at consultancy@sharedlivesplus.org.uk.
If you feel inspired by Sandra and Mandy’s story and would be interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer, please visit www.startyoursharedlife.today
