"Home Share" offers a new alternative for senior citizens

By Jim Haddadin, Staff Writer
Foster's Daily Democrat, July 9, 2007

DOVER – Children from the baby boomer generation caring for their aging parents, or those considering placing a family member in a nursing home or assisted care facility now have an alternative.

Living Innovations is an area company that has been providing home care to developmentally disabled people by pairing them with families to care for them, part of a program it calls “home share.” Clients reside with families in their homes and the families receive a monthly stipend.

The business now plans to offer the host family model as an option for senior citizens who are not developmentally disabled, but require residential support. The company says the program is a good fit for seniors who dislike institutionalized care.

Perry Blass, community liaison for Living Innovations, said staff in nursing homes and other elder-care facilities may split their work between 10-12 residents, whereas in a home share families can provide individual attention to seniors.

“It harkens back to the kind of care that people got a generation ago,” Blass said. “People today move away, and they’re working and raising families and kids. If there’s a compassionate care-giving family that can take them in, we can get back to that same kind of loving care.”

Blass adds that in many situations, the cost of the home share program would be equal to or lower than the monthly rate at nursing homes and assisted-care facilities.

Living Innovations is 10 years old and services 200 clients who live with host families.

The company has eight area offices, stretching from western New Hampshire to eastern Maine, including locations is Salem, Exeter and Portsmouth, and Lewiston, Newport, Saco and Bangor, Maine.

A ninth office will also open in Augusta, Maine, in the next few months.

Individuals who choose to offer their homes as part of the program receive medical training from licensed nurses matched to the specific needs of clients. Homes are also certified by the company and the interview process includes a criminal background check, driver’s license check, and home safety assessment.

Homes are also audited to make sure they meet state requirements.

In addition to the host family option, Living Innovations also offers two other services as part of their home share program where seniors can remain in their own homes and receive support from a caregiver.

For more information about the home share program, call the company’s office in Portsmouth at 603-436-1586.