October 16, 2013

Shared Lives carer Sandra urges others to open their homes to vulnerable adults during Shared Lives Week 

Liverpool carer Sandra McKeown who took over the care of two vulnerable adults when her husband Ray died suddenly is leading a call for more carers to come forward during National Shared Lives Week.

Sandra is adding her voice to a campaign being supported by social enterprise PSS to urge people to open their homes to vulnerable adults to prevent social isolation that some people may experience in larger, less personal settings.

Run by PSS, Shared Lives is a form of support where vulnerable adults and young people over 16 live at home with a specially recruited and trained carer and their family.

Sandra cares for 86-year-old Phyllis and 50-year-old Ian from her home in Wavertree and says she could not have coped with Ray’s death without their support and companionship.

Ray was just 56 when he was diagnosed with cancer in January and died three weeks later.

“I was devastated and thought I would struggle to carry on but having Ian and Phyllis around helped me so much,” said Sandra. “I don’t have children and, whilst family came and went, Ian and Phyllis stayed right by my side for the whole time.

“We are like a little family and people who don’t know our circumstances assume we are all related.”

Sandra and Ray became Shared Lives carers four years ago when a friend of Ray’s suggested he would be an ideal candidate as he had considerable experience of caring for his daughter who has cerebral palsy.

Ray’s name was put forward to PSS and, following nine months of training and support, Ray and Sandra, opened their home to a teenage girl who was pregnant but was unable to keep her baby.

After that they specialised in providing short breaks for young men with autism before Ian joined them four years ago and Phyllis two years ago. Both are vulnerable adults and Ian also has epilepsy.

“Ray was fantastic with Ian and really helped to build his confidence and self- esteem,” continued Sandra. “When Ray died I asked Ian if he would prefer to live with a male carer but he said no, he wanted to stay with me.

“I help Phyllis and Ian with their day to day living, medical appointments and any medication they may be on, and we basically share each other’s lives, watching the soaps, eating together and enjoying family occasions.

“I would urge people to think about becoming a Shared Lives carer because it is incredibly rewarding and you receive lots of support. As a model for living it makes a lot of sense and I know I get as much out of it as Ian and Phyllis, if not more.

“They have been absorbed into my family and we provide company and support for each other.”

Shared Lives, formed more than 30 years ago, is focused around choice and independence with careful matches made between carers and the people they care for.

The aim is to allow people to pursue ordinary lives within their chosen families and relationships and to feel valued within the community.

A national report on Shared Lives recently concluded that this innovative home-based form of care is transforming the lives of almost 10,000 people nationally.

However, there is a desperate shortage of carers in Merseyside and PSS is now looking to recruit carers willing to share their homes with a vulnerable adult.

Carers receive training, support, a fee and can provide anything from a short break to long term care.