Homeshare - Models of care and support

Homeshare enables two unrelated people to share a home for mutual benefit. Typically, an older Householder living in their own home with a room to spare will be carefully matched through a local Homeshare organisation with a younger adult (such as a recent graduate). The potential Homesharer typically provides 8-10 hours of practical support per week in exchange for low-cost accommodation. There is no element of personal care or regulated activity involved. The type of support provided could include help with cleaning; shopping; gardening; overnight security; and companionship. The younger adult saves money by accessing good quality accommodation at below market rent which is often close to work or in large towns/cities. The Homeshare organisation provides ongoing support to both the older Householder and Homesharer including regular monitoring and advice. Homeshare has experienced rapid growth in England and recently the Republic of Ireland with potential for organisations to be established in Northern Ireland.

In 2018, the Department for Communities commissioned a feasibility report from Shared Lives Plus into the potential of Homeshare to support older people in Northern Ireland. Shared Lives Plus does not deliver Homeshare directly but provides support and advice to organisations who would like to set up a service including access to quality standards. It also engages with policy-makers keen to develop innovative sustainable community-based services that tackle loneliness and help older people to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes. In Northern Ireland, Homeshare organisations could be established by a range of third sector providers already working with older people and where Homeshare could complement and add to existing services. Organisations are responsible for the recruitment and vetting of participants, matching and introductions and monitoring Homeshare arrangements. Key recommendations from the NI feasibility report include:

• Identifying and supporting third sector organisations to pilot Homeshare
• Establish a Homeshare steering group with key stakeholders across community, health and housing

Current users and outcomes

• Twenty-three Homeshare organisations in the UK and Ireland supporting over 350 older people
• Addresses gaps in practical support to help older people stay in their own homes
• Reduces fear among older householders living on their own with an overnight presence in the house
• Reduces social isolation

Estimated current financial benefits

• Older householder pays from £20 per week and homesharer from £40 per week to the organisation – covering running costs and salaries
• Organisations can become sustainable with as few as 26 arrangements

Potential benefits

• Supports older people to live independently
• Supports those with low-level social support needs below eligibility thresholds for statutory social care
• Reduces demand for social housing and makes best use of existing housing stock
• Offers companionship combating social isolation
• Potential to support other groups beyond older people
• Reduce and delay health trust spending on social care and new housing stock for older people
• Providing good-quality, low-cost homes for key low-paid workers and other groups who need affordable housing
• Supporting early discharge from hospital

Implementation issues

• Homeshare model is relatively unknown in Northern Ireland
• Some scepticism about the potential for compatibility between older and younger people in a Homeshare arrangement
• Adequate investment to start and sustain a service until it is self-funding
• Reassuring participants about safeguarding
• Needs of older householder escalating over time making Homeshare arrangement untenable
• No current dedicated infrastructure support for Homeshare in Northern Ireland
• Older people may be reluctant to pay a small fee for the service
• Potential impact on older householder in receipt of benefits

Case study: UK Homeshare

Service user

Andy is 68 and had lived alone for more than 14 years after an active career that took him around the world. He recognised that he was becoming increasingly lonely and unsure how to address this.

Support provided

Andy was referred to the local PossAbilities Homeshare organisation in Greater Manchester. They matched George who was from Romania and coming to work in Greater Manchester. They undertook police checks, vetting and introductions. George provides 10 hours practical support a week as well as providing an overnight presence for at least five nights a week.

Outcomes

Andy is less lonely enjoying a range of social activities with George. He is also reassured at having an overnight presence in the home. The Homeshare arrangement has also helped George to settle in well to a new life in England and he enjoys the friendship he has with Andy.