A service that matches people who have a spare room and need a bit of support, with people looking for somewhere to live and able to give that support, is giving people in their later years a new sense of purpose.
Cornwall Council is partnering with Supportmatch and Cornwall’s Voluntary Sector Forum to deliver the Homeshare service, with the aim of reducing loneliness, providing practical support and affordable accommodation.
Supportmatch is a non-profit organisation that has over 10 years of experience of delivering the Homeshare service across the UK.
Vikki Heywood has recently supported her mother from Hayle, who is in her early nineties, on to the service.
Vikki was really impressed by the service that Supportmatch provided.
“It was very gentle, it was all on Zoom so it was very easy for mum,” she said. “They took a great deal of care in finding out who would be the right sort of person and what my mum’s interests were.”
When asked what was one of the best outcomes of the scheme, Vikki said:
“Because it is a shared thing… It is a mutually beneficial thing which I think is a great thing to do in your later years, to have another sense of purpose.”
Cllr Olly Monk, Cornwall Council’s lead cabinet member for housing said:
“It’s great to hear about another Homeshare success story. As Vikki says, this is a partnership arrangement that both people get something out of.
“It just makes sense for those people living alone who might be looking for some company to have someone living in their home who can provide that companionship and do those extra jobs around the house that might not be quite so manageable anymore.
“In turn it provides someone who may have been struggling to find somewhere to live with a place to stay.”
Cllr Andy Virr, Cornwall Council’s cabinet lead for adult social care and health said:
“Having a sense of purpose is something that people in their later years can struggle with but this service just ticks all the boxes.
“It’s not always the case that someone needs support from a care agency or needs to go into a care home. In many cases, people having that bit of extra support from someone living in their home can mean they are able to live independently for a lot longer.”
Both people involved pay a fee to Supportmatch, which carries out Enhanced DBS checks, interviews and references with the homesharer. The householder decides who will come to live in their home and safeguarding is a crucial part of the service.
If you or someone you know has a spare room and would like to find out more then please get in touch by emailing info@supportmatch.co.uk or call 0203 633 6066.
Please also get in touch if you are looking for accommodation and think this arrangement might suit you.
You can find out more about this on the Supportmatch website
