Is this the future of affordable homecare?
A new, person-centred model for home support which enables two unrelated people to share a home for mutual benefit, is sweeping the country.
The HomeShare sees homeowners in need of support carefully matched with a fully vetted accommodation seeker who will provide an agreed amount of support in exchange for their accommodation.
Accommodation seekers are matched based on criteria such as support requirements, common interests, and personality.
The support provided by homesharers focuses on companionship as well as providing an overnight presence in the home for security and peace of mind. The homesharer will also offer support with daily living tasks such as household chores, shopping, gardening and meal preparation but will not provide personal care.
The HomeShare is a simple concept and has proven to be an effective and sustainable response to many of society’s key challenges.
Key benefits include:
• Helping an ageing population stay in their own homes for longer.
• Providing an affordable supplementary support at home option.
• Promoting health, wellbeing, and social interaction.
• Providing affordable accommodation for younger working professionals/students at a time of record housing shortages and high rental costs.
• Combating social isolation and loneliness for both parties.
• Peace of mind for family members, knowing loved ones are not living alone.
Homeshare was set up in 2017 by Lucie Cunningham who has extensive experience in the healthcare and homecare sectors. 18 months after she presented the model to Government, it was written into national policy, making Ireland the first country in the world to do so.
On foot of this, The HomeShare is to host the seventh World Homeshare Congress in Dublin in May 2022 on behalf of Homeshare International.
The cost for this tailored, monitored service is €195 per month. More information can be found at thehomeshare.ie or by emailing info@thehomeshare.ie or calling 086-4126381/083-3572882.