Lisa Goldsobel, Head of Service Delivery, Two Generations
Loneliness, isolation, carer stress, and lack of home support often lead to repeat consultations. But they aren’t problems a prescription can fix. Since 2019, Two Generations has been providing a safe, cost-effective community solution that complements social prescribing, tackles isolation, and lightens the load on health teams by addressing non-clinical needs.
Homeshare is an incredibly effective way to tackle loneliness and a host of other challenges faced by a growing, often unsupported, aging population. Two Generations, is a UK-wide Homeshare scheme, matching older adults with carefully vetted younger sharers who provide live-in companionship and light household help, as part of a Homeshare.
Every day I hear from Householders who are lonely and isolated. They don’t need full time care but just require a little extra help around the home; cooking, food shopping and the reassurance of an overnight presence to allow them to stay independent in their home.
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. All of our Householders are risk assessed to ensure they are suitable for a Homeshare and have capacity to make decisions. Our Householders who are living with dementia have representatives and we ensure POA is in place. Our Sharers go through a strict vetting process of interviews, references and an Enhanced DBS check. Meetings, overnight stays and trial periods are all part of our ‘getting to know you’ process, and we remain a point of contact and support throughout the entire duration of every Homeshare.
As Head of Service Delivery, I manage a wonderful operations team who take the time to get to know each of our Householders personally, understand their needs in a sharer, and create long-lasting bespoke matches.
Every day we hear from Householders and their families who tell us the impact Homeshare has had on their family and loved ones. Since Two Generations began we have put together more than a hundred Homeshares nationwide, from Perth to Plymouth. Our feedback shows that more than 90% of our Householders say that having a sharer in their home has helped reduce their stress and practical problems that led them to seeking a Homeshare.
Homesharers June and Rita.
We have had a number of householders in London whose families have shared their delight in Homeshare:
- “Two Generations provides a way to allow our elderly mother the opportunity to remain in her own home. She retains her independence but we have the security of knowing that there is someone there at night.”
(Edgware) - “My home sharer is very supportive and has become a good companion for me. I feel more secure knowing that someone else’s in the house. It’s not a home sharer anymore; she has become part of my family”
(Stamford Hill) - “It’s been an excellent match – We compliment each other very well. You’ve done a very good job in the match, couldn’t ask for better”
(Fulham)
Homesharers Jorge and Norman.
A Homeshare is a simple solution to allow patients to stay safe and independent at home and makes a significant difference in people’s lives, yet so many people are still not aware of it as an option for them.
When you are next with a patient who is lonely, isolated, would benefit from sharing an evening meal, a chat in the evenings or just needs the reassurance of an overnight presence to keep them independent in their home, simply signpost them to Two Generations for a chat, and we will take care of the rest.