“I live with other people and not alone”: a survey of the views and experiences of older people using Shared Lives (adult placement)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on the views and experiences of older people using Shared Lives (adult placement) in 2012/2013.

Design/methodology/approach: As part of a survey collecting information about outcomes for older users of Shared Lives issues of whether it had made a difference to quality of life, and positive and negative experiences of support were explored.

Findings: Questionnaires were returned by 150 older people using Shared Lives services. Findings suggest that this model of community-based support has a number of advantages for some older people, such as reducing social isolation and loneliness, promoting independence, choice and control, providing emotional support and increased well-being.

Research limitations/implications: The questionnaire was self-completed and so responses were not followed up to provide deeper insights.

Practical implications: Shared Lives is not appropriate for everyone but it is suggested that this option should form part of local commissioning strategies, be part of a range of options for social care practitioners to consider in their work with older people and helps to meet various current policy imperatives.

Originality/value: The potential of Shared Lives for older people is under-researched and this paper contributes to the literature in exploring the views of older people about family-based support in the community.