Life Sharing
Family Care Services is licensed to provide long-term, residential placement in private Life Sharing (formerly Family Living, referred to by some agencies as Lifesharing) homes for individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities who are not able to live in their own home. We license Life Sharing Caregivers who open their homes to assist adults of any age and of a variety of ability levels.
- Annually, approximately 1,600 individuals receive Life Sharing services in Pennsylvania.
- Life Sharing services have been available in PA for over 30 years.
- “Lifesharing is a mutual experience, not a hierarchical one.”
Information from: The General Assembly of PA House Resolution No. 531, Session of 2019
“Lifesharing means living with and sharing life experiences with supportive persons who form a caring household. Lifesharing is recognized as both a close personal relationship and a place to live. Lifesharers offer individuals the opportunity to be part of a family and to participate in community life. Lifesharers and individuals are carefully matched and supported by qualified professionals to achieve the person's program objectives. Birth families are encouraged to be part of the matching process and continue to have close relationships with individuals who choose a lifesharing option.”
Life Sharing "Makes my heart happy." A long-time caregiver shares some of her story in this video.
Got questions? Check out the "Ask the Expert" Life Sharing podcast with FCS Supervisor, Jess Coons, and Katy from WAYZ and VerStandig Media!
Who are participants in life sharing?
Life Sharing participants can be any individual over the age of 18 with intellectual or developmental disabilities who is eligible for services through the PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) within the Department of Human Services. The individual, with the help of their family, can choose to participate in this program and choose the caregiver family they want to reside with.
Individuals in the program can have varying levels of needs. Some are high functioning and able to care for most of their daily needs with reminders while others have more profound disabilities and may require total care. Many individuals attend day programs or have jobs during the day. Life Sharing participants are able to participate in everyday life activities to the best of their ability and with the assistance of their caregiver. They may choose to maintain connections with friends and family, and they choose how they want to be involved and participate in the community.
What does it take to become a caregiver?
Caregivers are compassionate individuals or families who want to help others with special needs have the best life possible. They are participants on a team of helpers. In addition to ensuring that an individual’s daily and specific developmental needs are met, they are willing to provide opportunities for the individual(s) in their home to participate in the family and community activities of their choosing. Caregivers understand that they are not a parent to the individual(s) in their home but a friend and a support who is willing to walk side by side with them to do life together.
Qualifications of Caregivers
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- 21 years of age or older
- Ability to pass criminal background checks
- Physically healthy and free of communicable diseases
- Mental and emotional stability
- Safe home and bedroom for an individual
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How can I get started?
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- Attend an information session – Family Care Services offers an info session about every two months. It is a great way to learn specifically about how our agency’s Life Sharing program works. You’ll learn about the individuals we work with, ongoing expectations, and the application and approval process. You can have your questions answered and hear the answers to others’ questions that you might not have thought of yet. If you’re unable to make one of our scheduled sessions, we can schedule an individual meeting with you. Contact us to be invited to the next info session.
- Request an application – If you’ve already attended an info session or already have past experience and knowledge about the program and/or otherwise feel ready to begin the process, contact us for an application! Your application will be reviewed and determination will be made about continuing in the home study and training process.
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To talk with someone about Life Sharing, call and ask to speak with Jessica Coons or Tony Fisher, or to be notified of an upcoming information session, ask for Andrea Adams.
FAQ
Will I receive information about the individual before I have to decide about welcoming him or her into my home?
Yes. We want to make matches that last and are great for the individual and for you, so we will provide you with all the information you need to make the right decision for your family.
How much care do individuals in the program require?
It varies. All individuals must have been diagnosed with an intellectual disability prior to the age of 18. However, the level of disabilities that they have can vary greatly. Some individuals are able to function at higher levels and may just need some extra support past the age of 18 until they are able to live independently within a few years. At the other end of the continuum, some individuals may need total care. Many are somewhere in the middle, and many will need some level of care until end of life.
When I’m a caregiver, will I be able to go on vacation?
Yes. You are welcome to take the individual with you if they want to go (and they can pay for their portion of the trip) or you can use substitute caregivers to care for them while you take a break on your own.
What kind of support do you offer caregivers? What do I do if I have an emergency and need immediate help with my individual(s)?
FCS staff are on call 24/7 to provide guidance, so there is always someone to contact with questions, concerns, or emergencies. An FCS life sharing specialist is a direct support to caregivers and the individuals in the home. This is someone who visits the home regularly and provides support, encouragement, and supervision and will help ensure that caregivers receive the training they need. When an individual is placed in your home, a contingency plan will be developed in case of emergency. If a caregiver becomes unavailable, substitute care is an option and relocation of an individual may be an option depending on the situation.
How do caregivers get paid?
Caregiver payment is a daily rate based on the level of care that an individual needs as well as other factors such as transportation requirements, etc. Checks are mailed monthly.
What are caregiver training requirements?
FCS follows the training requirements defined through the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). Waiver monitoring and 24 hours of annual human services training is required each calendar year. FCS offers many options to obtain required trainings so that it can fit your schedule.