Personal Stories about Shared Lives

A Service User's experience:

The following article has been written by a gentleman and his mother who uses the Shared Lives Scheme:The Adult Placement Carers' experience:

(P) is a 56 year old man, he lives at home with his mum and has respite with a Shared Lives Carer. (P)’s mum said both her and (P) benefit from the respite he receives.

(P)’s mum had a stroke a while ago, so when he has respite she can have a rest and not worry about (P). She knows he is being well cared for and will be going out with his carer. (P) does the things he enjoys doing as it is difficult for her to go with (P) since her stroke.

(P) enjoys his model bus collection and when he gets the opportunity he likes to go to the transport museum at Cheetham Hill in Manchester. (P) also enjoys listening to music and has quite a few CD's.

(P)’s mum said that herself and (P) are very happy being a part of the Shared Lives Scheme.

The Adult Placement Carers experience:

Linda’s experience:

I have been a carer now for 7 years and have provided a variety of care and support to many individuals with varied disabilities. Being part of the scheme gives me the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. The role of the carer is extremely rewarding and very much appreciated by the individuals and their family members.

This is something I hope to continue to do for many more years to come. Joining Shared Lives has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Do you feel you could make a difference in someone’s life?

Tony’s experience:

I have been a day support carer for about eighteen months and support a young man (G), one day a week; we are flexible in our plans for our days out, due to the English weather but we have enjoyed trips to Etherow Park, Stamford Park, the cinema and the Imperial War museum. We have also found some nice tea rooms and cafes on our travels and on occasion met people we know and have made new friends, but we always finish the day at (G)’s request at my house bowling on the Wii.

I find a lot of satisfaction in knowing that while I am supporting (G) he is getting some fresh air and as he says “blowing the cobwebs away”. He has told me he really likes our days out and looks forward to them.

(G) has also enjoyed the occasional outing when my son has tagged along. (G) already knew my son as they were at school together and get on well; visiting the cinema and having a meal and on another occasion (believe it or not when the sun was shining) a BBQ in the garden.

I have also supported a man (A) who uses a wheelchair to do his shopping when his regular carer was away on holiday. Although I was there to buy his weekly shop he was able to show me where the best places to shop were and get about Ashton’s new market hall without getting lost as I am not a regular visitor to Ashton.

Pat’s experience:

I have been a Shared Lives carer for 16 years. I support a lady twice a week to the pub where she has met people and become friends with. This lady lives alone and gets very lonely but now she looks forward to her visits to the pub where she mixes with her friends.

I also support a lady swimming who is in a wheelchair, she finds it difficult to get out alone and to get exercise. We swim twice a week which we both enjoy and have made friends with other ladies that swim.
I have always enjoyed being a Shared Lives carer and I get great satisfaction from enhancing people’s lives and hopefully making things easier and giving them something to look forward to which makes the difference.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Tameside  Shared Lives  Scheme Frederick House Dunkirk Lane Hyde SK14 4QD  View local map
0161 342 5151
0161 342 5265