Frequently Asked Questions – Householder
If you find you need extra help around the home and you are willing to have someone living in your home, then yes, Homesharing could be for you. Homesharing means welcoming another person to share your home, and that person can do those little jobs that you may be finding harder to cope with. The Sharer is there overnight, giving you the reassurance that someone is at hand if you need them.
For as long as the match lasts £200 per month, payable at the start of the one-month trial period. When you consider the cost of employing a weekly cleaner or gardener and the rates charged by agencies for overnight care, Homesharing is a very low-cost option. There is no set-up charge.
Peace of mind and the confidence to remain in familiar surroundings. Our Householders say a major benefit of homesharing is the reassurance they get from having a friendly, supportive Sharer living with them, especially having someone around overnight. They enjoy the company and help, find greater independence and feel safer at home.
A great deal of time and expertise goes into creating a successful match, for which there is no charge. Once your Sharer moves in the arrangement is monitored to make sure that things are going smoothly. During the first month or so expect regular contact from your Co-ordinator.
When you have settled into your new relationship you may decide on less frequent meetings. We are flexible and always there for help and advice.
Homeshare West provides a personalised service with the reassurance of out-of-hours support should you need it.
Most importantly they are kind and caring, and enjoy the company of older people. For your peace of mind, they are carefully vetted to make sure they want to share for the right reasons, and not to take advantage. There isn’t really a ‘typical’ Sharer occupation. We’ve found them from a diverse range of employment, including:
Teacher ▪ Accountant ▪ Trainee solicitor ▪ Personal assistant ▪ Clerical worker ▪ Secretary ▪ Care worker ▪ Librarian ▪ Mature student ▪ Writer ▪ Florist ▪ Vet ▪ Specialist teaching assistant ▪ Nurse ▪ Nutritional therapist ▪ Mature student ▪ Former ballerina
The Homeshare West Co-ordinator visits you (with perhaps your relative or a friend) for an in-depth interview to ask about the kind of support you would like, and the type of person you would like to have sharing your home. We want to know who you will get on with.
We then search for the Sharer. It may take some time to find the right person, which does give you the time to reflect before making a definite commitment to share. The Co-ordinator arranges a meeting to introduce the potential Sharer. That meeting may take a couple of hours, and you don’t make the decision straight away. We know you need time to think it over and you may want to meet the Sharer again before giving us your decision.
If things work out well during the trial period, the Sharer will be with you for at least a year. In our experience, most matches last much longer. The length of the match depends upon the changing circumstances of both parties. One month’s notice is expected regardless of who ends the match.
Matches end for a variety of reasons. The Sharer may change job, leave the area, or decide to move in with a friend. You may decide you no longer need support, or your needs may become more than can be met through a Homesharing arrangement. Should you decide you want the match to end, the Co-ordinator can make it easier by acting on your behalf.
