Improving lives through sharing-and reducing costs

摘要

Can a practice that's been around since the Middle Ages play a major role in transforming the care of adults in the 21st century?Our research* suggests that expanding Shared lives schemes - formerly known as adult placements - could play a major role in meeting the needs of growing numbers of vulnerable adults at a time of deep public spending cuts.It shows that, to put it simply, paving people to include another adult in their family life works. Shared lives works because carers and their families often have the flexibility to cope with complex needs which would cost much more to meet in other settings.