15th June 2026
People across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to “tell one person” about Shared Lives care this June, as part of a national awareness week aimed at helping more people understand Shared Lives.
Age NI Shared Lives supported person Ian and his carer Derek
Shared Lives is an example of what the future of good social care looks like. It builds relationships and a sense of belonging for people supported.
Shared Lives schemes bring people who need support together with Shared Lives carers to share homes, lives, and community connections, so everyone has the chance to live where they feel they belong.
Age NI, Northern Ireland’s leading charity for older people, offers a regional Shared Lives service based around Shared Lives carers sharing their home, family and community life with an older person who needs support. It helps older people to stay as independent as they can, for as long as possible.
Shared Lives Week 2026 runs from 15th – 21st June, and is led by Shared Lives Plus, the UK membership charity for Shared Lives schemes and Shared Lives carers.
This year’s theme is: Shout about Shared Lives – care worth talking about.
The campaign aims to help more people understand what Shared Lives is, the different people and families it supports, and why it is recognised as one of the UK’s highest-rated forms of social care.
Every Shared Lives arrangement is carefully matched. Local schemes introduce people based on shared values, personalities, routines and lifestyles – not just support needs.
People spend time getting to know each other gradually before any decisions are made. Everyone involved has a say.
The matching process, led by expert local schemes, is what makes Shared Lives different – and why many arrangements become long-term, life-changing relationships.
Ian has been supported by Derek through the Age NI Shared Lives since April 2025. Ian is severely sight-impaired and finds it difficult to leave his home independently, which can cause him to feel isolated and overwhelmed. With Derek’s support, he can reconnect with his local community and enjoy those everyday activities that others take for granted, like shopping and going for a walk.
The pair have developed a real friendship, with shared interests in horse-racing and sport and Ian and Derek enjoy talking and spending time together. Ian’s social worker is glad to be able to offer a different type of service to Ian, through Shared Lives, and she is reassured knowing that Ian is well supported and can maintain his independence.
Alison Milford, Head of Shared Lives at Age NI, said: “Ian and Derek are a brilliant match – they share common interests and really enjoy each other’s company. Ian is supported to stay well, both mentally and physically and has control over the support he receives, which is person-centred at its heart. Derek loves helping Ian and has the support of our Shared Lives team and specialised training to help him carry out his role to a very high standard.
We would love to have more carers like Derek who can provide this support and make a real difference in the lives of people like Ian.”
Rhonda Mullan, Social Care Lead for Older People, Physical Disability & Sensory Impairment for the Department of Health Strategic Planning and Performance Group, shared:
“The older people supported by Shared Lives and Age NI are receiving personalised and relationship-based care, within real homes and communities. The difference this makes is significant, enabling our older people to live full, independent lives, building relationships and community connections, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from those supported, their families, and the Shared Lives carers.”
Nearly 10,000 people are supported through Shared Lives across the UK, yet many people still do not know it exists.
As part of the campaign, people involved in Shared Lives are being encouraged to “tell one person” about Shared Lives during the week – helping more people understand what Shared Lives can make possible.
The Shared Lives service in Northern Ireland started in 2023, and so far has approved 27 carers to support older people across all trust areas.
Being a Shared Lives carer is increasingly appealing to people looking for meaningful, flexible work and a way to make a difference for people often going through transitions in their own lives. Shared Lives carers receive a fee and ongoing support from their local scheme.
Most of us or our families will need support at some point in our lives – whether after illness, during ageing, or through major life changes. Shared Lives shows what that support can look like when it is rooted in real relationships.
To find out more about Shared Lives in Northern Ireland, visit: www.ageni.org/sharedlives