Accommodation for people with learning disabilities
Supported living for people with a learning disability
Supported living schemes offer care and support for people in communal living settings.
Support includes:
- assessment of ongoing care needs
- hands-on care and practical assistance
- skills training
- escort to community settings
- advice and support
People living in a supported living scheme have an allocated key worker to help them become more independent, develop and maintain social contacts, and lead an active life.
Care homes for people with learning disabilities
Care homes offer similar support to supported living schemes but are for people with a higher level of support needs, and tend to be smaller. You can find out more about care homes on our page Choosing A Care Home.
Shared Lives
Shared lives is a form of support that enables people to live life to the full in their communities, without having to live alone or in a care home.
Adults who need support or care are matched with a compatible Shared Lives Carer who agrees to share their home and their family (or community ) life with that person. They will move into their own room in the household.
In Shared Lives the goal is an ordinary family life, where everyone gets to contribute to real relationships and are able to be active, valued citizens .
Shared Lives Carers are carefully selected and trained by a regulated Shared Lives Scheme. They receive payments to cover some of their time, rent and a contribution towards running of the household.
If you are interested in becoming a shared lives carer, please see Could you become a shared lives carer?
Finding out more
People with a learning disability may move to a supported living scheme, a residential care home or shared lives scheme after an assessment from their local learning disability team to see if they are eligible for support, and to decide how best they could be supported.
The 18+ Learning Disability Pathway provides a variety of services that provide accomodation support for people with a learning disability with relevant contact details.
Contact your local learning disability team to find out more.