New scheme encourages older people to share home

Homeowner Gill Young (right) said she and Anna Krysiak share the cooking

A woman has launched a scheme that encourages older homeowners to share their houses to bring people together.

Liz Davis, from Malvern, Worcestershire, saw her late parents suffer from loneliness before she set up Share Home, which matches a homeowner with a stranger.

The one renting pays £122 a week, and the not-for-profit organisation takes about £46 a month of that money to fund support.

One such person, Anna Krysiak, who lives with homeowner Gill Young in Dursley, Gloucestershire, said she felt like "this is my place".

The money she pays goes towards bills, and arrangements only last for as long as both parties want it to continue.

Share Home visits every week and acts as a mediator for any issues.

Twelve people have signed up to the scheme and the organisation is in talks with another 15 to 20.

Mrs Davis' mother had dementia and went into a care home, with her father left alone.

"He'd always been such a sociable person and it was such a shame to see him feeling so lost really.

"For a lot of people... [living with someone] might give them another 10, 20 years of living at home and doing normal things, feeling like a normal person, part of the community."

Liz Davis, from Worcestershire, set up Share Home

Ms Krysiak, from Poland, who is divorced, said she and Ms Young "try to go for a walk every day".

But she added: "We don't put any pressure on each other. We can do whatever we want."

Ms Krysiak stated other people "can give you the [confidence]" and inspire and encourage "you to do something".

Ms Young, a widow with three grown-up children who was married for 40 years, said she was "looking long term" and the arrangement made her "feel safe".

The homeowner stated: "I was getting quite lonely and I wanted a complete change really and I like books, art. We like travel, walking, wellbeing, that kind of environment."

Ms Young said she and Ms Krysiak had visited a Polish shop together, and liked similar TV programmes.