Older people in Fife urged to share their homes in return for support

Older Fifers are being asked to offer a home to others in return for support and companionship in the first scheme of its kind in Scotland.

Homeshare has proved successful south of the border and on the other side of the Atlantic, and organisers in the Kingdom insist it could work well here.

Host householders who are struggling with everyday chores and activities are being sought to take part in the initiative, which would see them give up a spare room in return for a certain amount of social care hours a week.

Despite obvious potential pitfalls, advocates of the scheme say it is entirely safe, and that full background checks are carried out before suitable matches are made.

Project manager Anna Sandford said: “There is risk with everything we do in life, but in this case the risk is very carefully managed.”

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