Shared Lives involves matching a carefully assessed and approved Shared Lives carer with someone (aged over 16) in need of support. Shared Lives carers share their homes and community, offering day support, short breaks and overnight stays or a place to live. Shared Lives carers are self-employed but recruited, trained and supported by Shared Lives schemes, who are registered with the Care Inspectorate.
Shared Lives can support young people leaving care, older people, those with learning and physical disabilities and those experiencing mental ill- health.
Shared Lives puts people in control of how the live their life, with choice and relationships at its heart.
To be eligible for Shared Lives, usually people need to be in receipt of a social work budget, or their unpaid carer is eligible via the Carers (Scotland) Act. Some schemes can accept those who are self-funding.