Meet the Shared Lives carers

Shared Lives Plus has shared the following case study about Shared Lives:

"Rachel and Michael live in Bognor Regis on the sunny south coast and share their home with a mad Springer Spaniel called Hamish.

Michael has been living with Rachel since he was 8 years old when he moved in with her in a long term foster placement. He decided he’d like to stay when he turned 18 and Rachel transitioned from foster care to Shared Lives care. They’ve been together now for 21 years and really do feel like family.

Michael spends his days at Adopt-a-Station: a work aid project which takes him all over the area tending to the hanging baskets and planted troughs at the railway stations around the south.

He loves cars and all vehicles and in the summer they enjoy going out together in their very old convertible, and driving across the downs.

They both like history and so try to go to lots of interesting places. They are members of the National Trust and often visit their houses when they are away in the caravan."