SHARED LIVES
‘Best thing
I ever did’
A little-known scheme
that gives support to
adults with learning
disabilities within a
family home is looking
for more carers, reports
Deborah Dickey.
E
aling Shared Lives brings
adults with extra needs
together with local families.
Some adults live full-time
with the carer they are matched with
as an alternative to them living in a
care home. But carers can also help
by providing respite care – giving
other families a much-needed break.
Shared Lives carers are paid and
receive training and support, as well as
holidays and breaks.
Myrna with Mary
‘COULD BE JUST WHAT I WANT’
Mary is 56 and has moderate learning
difficulties. She lives with Myrna in
Ealing Broadway and they have been
together since December 2008.
Myrna said: “I was a support worker
for adults with learning disabilities
when I heard about Shared Lives and I
thought ‘this could be just what I want’.
I can work and earn the same money as
before, without having to do the shifts,
and I still have time to help out with
26
around ealing
Autumn 2014
my grandchildren. I got to choose what
kind of placement I wanted.”
Mary is outgoing and knows her own
mind. She has a busy life and enjoys
taking part in the Impact Theatre group
three days a week and attending a day
centre for the other two days.
Mary and Myrna are obviously
close and provide companionship for
each other. Myrna continued: “Mary
can’t live by herself and has no living
relatives, so now she is part of my
family. She’s got a ready-made family.”
“Yeah, I have. I play with the
grandchildren,” Mary cut in.
“It’s made a tremendous difference
to Mary, living here,” Myrna told me.
“She’s much more confident and verbal
than when she first came. I would
recommend Shared Lives to anyone.