A NEW scheme in Trafford is helping people who develop dementia to stay in their own homes.

The scheme has benefited Shirley Richardson, aged 85, from Sale, who was diagnosed with dementia, faced living out her remaining years in a residential home until a new scheme called Homeshare was introduced by PossAbilities.

It meant that Shirley whose family live abroad, was able to offer a vacant room in her home to someone in return for a few hours a week of social support.

A volunteer with the Princes Trust, Hayley Rudge, 24, is now living at Shirley’s home.

She said: “It’s great here. I do a bit of cleaning and put the bins out for Shirley. We like to have tea and make chocolate mousse, and then I have my own life, too. I live in a great place that I wouldn’t normally be able to afford."

Because Hayley’s placement worked so well for the pensioner, she offered another room to Naomi Murray, aged 29, a care assistant.

Naomi said: “Shirley enjoys hearing about my day at work. I tend to do her food shopping and we just all get on so well.”

Shirley’s daughter, Brenda, praised the scheme, which is run by social enterprise PossAbilities with support from Trafford Council.

Brenda said: “It’s not easy when your relative is diagnosed with dementia. It’s even harder when you live far away like I do. Homeshare is ideal for older people whether or not they have dementia."

Ruth Bamber, Homeshare’s development manager from PossAbilities, said: “We recently delivered an event at Trafford Town Hall to promote Homeshare across the borough to a range of agencies and professionals. Homeshare is a fantastic way to support residents to live independently, at home for as long possible while reducing isolation and loneliness for older residents.

We want to hear from anyone who has a spare room and could use some social support, and anyone who needs a place to live and could offer up to ten hours of support each week. We do all the matching and the safety checks."

If you think you, or a relative, could be a Homesharer contact Ruth Bamber on 07976 812121. More information is at www.possabilities.org.uk/homeshare/