Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has paid a special visit to the home of a dedicated carer. Janet Smith, cares for two people in her own home as part of the PSS Shared Lives scheme. Shared Lives is often likened to fostering, but designed for adults who need a bit of extra support to live their most independent life.
PSS Shared Lives matches specially trained carers, like Janet Smith and her husband Brian, with an adult who needs support, and they all live together in the carer’s home, like a family. Janet, who has been a for more than 20 years, currently supports brothers, Gareth, 65, and Medwyn, 61, alongside her husband, Brian, from their home in Aberconwy. Mrs Finch-Saunders' visit happened with the aim of raising awareness about Shared Lives as an excellent career choice for people looking to make a difference in the lives of others from their own home.
It’s also an effective and cost-efficient innovation in social care that’s been improving the lives of local people in North Wales for over 20 years. Janet was 45 with a young family when she first decided to become a Shared Lives carer. She said: “It really benefited my children, who were six and 16 when Gareth and Medwyn first came to live with us.
It meant they grew up to be compassionate, open minded people. It's no surprise that both my children went on to work in health and social care too.” Janet Finch-Saunders, whose key focuses are making sure there’s more investment in .
