LifeShare
LifeShare is an innovative way for adults with developmental disabilities to live connected and meaningful lives in their community. Through the program, families and community members, called home providers, offer a nurturing and safe environment for adults with developmental disabilities, called home sharers. A provider can have an incredible impact on a sharer’s life by giving them a place they can call home; a place where they are supported, valued, accepted and can find a real sense of belonging. In turn, home providers can experience something incredibly rewarding and fulfilling in their own lives.
Every LifeShare arrangement is tailored to match the unique needs of each person and home, and Community Living Parry Sound supports with developing the arrangement that suits your situation. Each arrangement will contain details of the shared responsibilities that are agreed upon by the home provider, home sharer and the service agency (that’s us). In general, home providers are responsible for providing home sharers with:
- a safe living environment that includes their own furnished bedroom
- nutritious meals, snacks and beverages
- support with their basic needs, health care, and other activities of daily living
- support with participation in their regular engagements (such as work, volunteering, recreational activities, medical appointments, etc.)
- opportunities to build new relationships and deepen existing ones
How CLPS supports with LifeShare:
SCREENING:
It doesn’t take specific skills or professional training to be a LifeShare home provider, but it is a long-term commitment, and a big one at that. It is our responsibility to screen candidates interested in becoming home providers to ensure their suitability for the program.
MATCHING:
It is our responsibility to ensure that a LifeShare arrangement is the perfect fit. The process of matching home providers with home sharers takes time and careful consideration – but when done correctly, it creates a comfortable and positive experience for everyone.
TRAINING:
We will provide the home provider with a detailed orientation and the necessary training that the program requires. Training usually includes:
- CPR and First Aid
- Abuse prevention and reporting
- Confidentiality
- Any additional training to make sure that the unique needs of the home sharer are met
ONGOING:
A member of our team who specializes in coordinating LifeShare arrangements will act as a continuous resource for home providers and sharers. It is our responsibility to ensure that all Quality Assurance Measures are being followed – that any training, inspections and certifications are kept up to date, that all records are maintained, and most importantly, that home providers and home sharers are safe and satisfied. Additionally, it is our responsibility to ensure that home providers receive excellent compensation for their support in the LifeShare program.
The eligibility criteria for LifeShare are not determined by Community Living Parry Sound, but by Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), the access point for adult developmental services. To be eligible to participate in LifeShare as a home sharer, one must be:
- 18 years or older
- diagnosed with having a developmental disability
- connected with the DSO and have been approved to receive Housing Supports from a provider in your area
To continue reading about the LifeShare program, click here.
Where to start
Connect with us to learn more about LifeShare arrangements through CLPS:
Lori McPhaden, Manager of Support Services
705 746 9330 ext. 300