Shared Lives Week 2024 happened on 24th-28th June and we celebrated with the PSS Shared Lives Carer Awards. Two of our Shared Lives carers, Georgina and Andrew, took home the trophy for Transformational Care after the judging panel heard the unbelievable turnaround the person they support, Jordan has had after moving in with Georgina and Andrew a year ago.
Jordan's life before Shared Lives
At first, Georgina and Andrew were Short Break Shared Lives carers, which meant that they didn’t have anyone living with them permanently, but they did welcome people in for a few days or weeks at a time to support them for an agreed amount of time. That all changed when Jordan arrived at their home in an emergency. They helped him through a really tough time and made sure he had the right support from social services. They’d never planned to be long-term Shared Lives carers but when they started to think about Jordan leaving, they realised they couldn’t bear to see him go.
Georgina made a life-changing decision to leave her full-time job as a social worker and become a full-time Shared Lives carer for Jordan. Ever since, they’ve been able to give Jordan the physical, mental and emotional support he’s always needed to thrive. Today, he’s flourishing!
Jordan's life now
Jordan’s joined two different day services for learning disabilities and reconnected with family just when he thought it was too late. Jordan has joined two teams – an indoor bowls team and a pool team – and they’re not only for people with disabilities. He even has a regular get together with new friends he’s made. He’s gone from being anxious and angry to being happy and full of smiles.
‘I can’t say enough about what they mean to me and what they have done for me since I got here. They never gave up on me.’
Jordan has stopped drinking and can now go to the pub without feeling the urge to drink. He’s also working with a gambling addiction team to reduce his gambling. On top of all that brilliant stuff, he’s become a dab hand in the kitchen and a household hero with daily tasks!
It doesn’t stop there! Jordan has become a vibrant part of the Shared Lives community. He takes part in open days, recruitment events, and even gave a talk at a local college about his experience and what Shared Lives means to him.
And what does Jordan think about life living with Georgina and Andrew? He said:
‘They saved my life! They are angels on earth, and if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would be here.’
‘I can’t say enough about what they mean to me and what they have done for me since I got here. They never gave up on me.
‘They saved my life! They are angels on earth, and if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would be here.’
‘They are everything to me. They let me live and taught me to live again.’
The impact show how much of a difference people can make as a Shared Lives carer story shows the profound impact that dedicated Shared Lives carers can have. They not only provided a safe and supportive home for Jordan but also helped him build a fulfilling and independent life.