Government Proposes Volunteer Live In Cares for Elderly
03/00/2013
Social services have come up with a new idea for a system, which if successful, will be beneficial to both frail older people and young people who are struggling to pay their rent. Rather than having to provide the formal services of a carer, the new system matches up selected young tenants to be lodgers with elderly people in their homes. They would then live rent-free in return for helping the elderly person with chores like shopping, cooking and cleaning, and would not have to struggle with the cost of owning their own home or paying any rent.
In return, the home owner would benefit from companionship as well as some help around the home. There are many studies which indicate that reduced isolation and some adaptations to the home environment can help the elderly to maintain good health, reduce falls, and lower the amount of medical admissions to hospitals. It’s widely known that an older person will generally fare better in their own home rather than in a residential care home or hospital setting, enjoying a longer and more fulfilled life.
The tenants will have to undergo special checks to ensure their suitability including an interview and police checks, and would have an opportunity to meet with the proposed older person in order to make sure they were likely to be suitable for each other, and come to an agreement together about the quantity of domestic work that would be required, with an informal agreement being drawn up to suit their individual needs. Young tenants would have to follow some basic ground rules about visitors and parties.
The scheme, called “Shared Lives” will initially be rolled out in Windsor and Maidenhead in Berks, following a similar pilot scheme in Carlisle by Age UK. Although it is a new scheme, the idea of taking in a lodger was suggested earlier in the year by ministers like Vince Cable among others, that those elderly people in possession of large homes could consider accepting a lodger in order to reduce their tax bill.
The scheme is only suitable for those people who do not qualify for a free professional carer, but may well impact on live-in carers who rely on getting paid to help elderly people live independent lives in their own homes. In the event of the elderly person getting ill or less able, the young tenant would not be expected to do the same job as a carer who has a specific professional skill set. However, they might be able to warn social services about any deterioration in health, so that they could put a formal care plan in place. The council are predicting an annual saving of around £360,000 in formal care costs.
