Wales was the first of the four UK nations to have Shared Lives services across almost every Local Authority area and grew nearly a quarter since 2015/16. Over 500 Shared Lives carers open their homes and lives to 1,100 people who need support with daily life across Wales, including those with dementia, mental ill health, older age or young people leaving care.
When Jen first moved in with Rachel, her Shared Lives carer in Bridgend, she didn’t go out, had few friends and needed daily insulin injections. Now Jen’s been able to reduce her diabetic medication, has made friends and enjoys yoga and tai chi: “I walk the dogs, care for the chickens and help around the house. I’m in touch with my family and stay on weekends. This is my second home.”
Rachel has supported Jen for 15 years, working with the ategi Shared Lives organisation: “My life changed and I went through a bit of an upheaval. Shared Lives gave me the chance to work flexibly, bringing up my children and giving someone else opportunities at the same time. Allowing people dignity and to protect their rights is important to me.”
Recently, we met the First Minister Mark Drakeford AM and Julie Morgan AM, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, to tell them that with the right support and investment, Shared Lives could create positive outcomes for up to 55,000 older people in Wales. We are now looking for local authority partners to make that happen.
The most significant growth of Shared Lives care in Wales has been in short breaks and respite to help older people and those with dementia manage better in the community. In South East Wales Shared Lives there’s been a 32% growth in support for people over 50 since 2017/18, and a 42% growth in support for people over 65 years of age. If all schemes increased support for older people in line with the rise achieved by South East Wales over 100 more older people would be supported.
Read our State of the Nation Report in Welsh here and English here.
Escaping the invisible asylum 