Sharing is caring

Shared living has the ability to enhance a person’s health and wellbeing, while creating long-term friendships.

Running successfully in the UK and America for more than 20 years, South Australia’s UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide is also joining the homeshare scheme.

Founded on the belief people have a right to live in their own home with as much independence as possible, homeshare matches older householders looking for companionship and some assistance around the home with homesharers who are caring, honest and reliable, and who are able to offer this in return for free accommodation.

Homeshare coordinator, Kellie MacGillivray, tells DPS News the scheme neither provides professional caring nor live-in housekeeping.

“It simply allows older residents to continue to live in their home. For some people they have the added benefit of security and there are comprehensive police and reference checks to ensure the living arrangement meets both the needs of the householder and home sharer,” Ms MacGillivray says.

Homesharers generally pursue their own job or studies during the day and offer about 10 hours of practical help and companionship per week.

Criteria for a householder’s eligibility includes:

• Residence within the program’s geographic boundaries.
• Ability to provide adequate, safe, clean and well-maintained accommodation.
• Preparedness to undertake a homesharing arrangement for a minimum of nine months.
• Willingness to undergo the assessment process, with the capacity to live in their own home and share it with the home sharer.

Criteria for a homesharer’s eligibility includes:

• Prepared to live in the designated area and undertake a Homeshare Arrangement for a minimum of nine months.
• Willingness to undergo assessment processes, including the provision of three personal references and a police check.
• Genuine interest in the lives and experiences of older people and preferably some experience living with an older person.
• Capacity to share an older person’s home and provide a stipulated amount of personal assistance and companionship.

“The program is very individual and perhaps the most important thing that comes from it is that older householders have another option on how they live their lives and can choose to stay at home,” Ms MacGillivray says.

If you are interested in Homeshare, contactHomeshare coordinators, Kellie MacGillivray or Garth Ebelthite on 08 8375 1420 or email Kellie.MacGillivray@ucwesleyadelaide.org.au.