Giving people with learning disabilities a break

HOME Share Clare, the service developed by the local Brothers of Charity, providing short breaks to adults and children with learning disabilities featured on  RTÉ’s Nationwide on Wednesday night.
“Families of people with disabilities are telling us that one of the supports that they may need to enable them to continue to care for their family member at home are short breaks. Short breaks give them a break from their role as carer and also provide their family member an opportunity to be with others and benefit from new experiences,” a spokesperson for Home Share Clare said.
The uniqueness of this initiative is that care is provided for people in family homes and can be seen as a home away from home. Individuals enjoy the opportunity of developing new relationships and being part of new communities whilst enjoying a short break.
With home-sharing, the person seeking the service is carefully matched with a person/family that often have common interests and hobbies. The family of the person requesting the respite meet and often build up relationships with the home sharers. Breaks can be planned and crisis can be responded to quicker and more efficiently than more traditional ways of providing respite.
Home-sharing is a two way process in that the families who provide the respite gain hugely from the experience of having a person with an intellectual disability stay in their home. Sustainable and unique relationships can develop that will last for many years to come.
“The service,” explained the spokesperson, “is a crucial way to support and expand the informal networks of families and build on capacity and strength of communities. Home share families are assessed, trained and supported by Home Share Clare. We have successfully placed over 40 adults and children with families over the last three years. This service is open to anyone with a learning disability in County Clare.”
Home Share Clare is dependent on fundraising and charitable donations. For more information contact Patricia O’Meara or Jo Rynne at 065 6869760 or homeshareclare@gmail.com.