Lifesharing through Family Living

An alternative to more traditional residential services, Lifesharing through Family Living enables individuals with a developmental disability to reside with an adult or family in their private home as a fully participating member of that family. Lifesharing through Family Living is more than providing the basics such as food and shelter. It is about sharing life experiences, and building mutual relationships and responsibility. The relationship between the provider and individual is meant to be enduring.  Providers are very diverse and include single adults, single parents, two-parent families with children, and “empty-nest” families. Potential providers and the individual are carefully interviewed, then matched to ensure they have compatible interests and personalities. Lifesharing through Family Living is a licensed program by the Department of Public Welfare Chapter 6500 Regulations.

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• What is Lifesharing Through Family Living?
• What Will The Individual Be Like?
• What Are The Requirements To Be A Provider?
• How Does the Process Start?
• What Supports Are Available?
• What Are The Provider’s Responsibilities?
• How Are Providers Paid?
• How Can I Get More Information?
• What We Hear About Lifesharing:

What is Lifesharing Through Family Living?

Lifesharing is a program that enables an individual with a disability to join a provider family or a companion, in their private home, as a fully participating member of that family.

Lifesharing is more than providing the basics such as food and shelter. It is about sharing life experiences, and building mutual relationships and responsibility. The relationship between the provider and individual is meant to be enduring.

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What Will The Individual Be Like?

The individual in Lifesharing could be a child or an adult with a developmental disability. Persons with mental retardation may learn more slowly than others, but they have the same dreams of independence, friendship and fulfillment. They can also give back love and be a contributing member to family and community. Many of the individuals are currently residing in a group home and have expressed a desire to live as part of a family.

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What Are The Requirements To Be A Provider?

Enjoying people and being willing to share and help others are the most important skills for a provider. Our providers are very diverse and include single adults, single parents, two-parent families with children, and "empty-nest" families. No special experience is needed to become a provider; training and support are provided by the staff of the Barber National Institute.

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How Does the Process Start?

The potential providers and the individual are carefully interviewed, then matched to ensure they have compatible interests and personalities. The Lifesharing Specialist will then arrange supervised visits to introduce the individual to the provider’s home and family. You will slowly progress, developing a relationship, until all parties feel comfortable with the move into your home.

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What Supports Are Available?

A Lifesharing Specialist works closely with the provider family to identify and meet their needs, find solutions to particular issues, as well as coordinate the variety of support services that are available.

These services may include:
--> counseling with the family
--> speech/communication assistance
--> nutritional counseling
--> other supports for the individual

The Lifesharing Specialist will offer on-going training to families, and visit the home as often as necessary to help nurture the newly formed relationship with the individual.

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What Are The Provider’s Responsibilities?

In most cases, the individual will be out in the community during the day, either at school, working at a job, or in a day program. Most providers who work outside the home find that their schedules mesh very well.

The provider’s responsibilities include:
• attending meetings and medical appointments
• working on goals to help the individual become more independent
• providing a quality home life that is mutually beneficial for the family and the individual

The Lifesharing Specialist will assist a provider family in arranging substitute care when needed. Providers are also responsible for ensuring that the home meets basic safety standards established by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The Lifesharing Specialist assists families with all of these areas.

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How Are Providers Paid?

Providers received a monthly stipend, which is federally tax-exempt, to cover service and room/board. The individual’s income and benefits cover their own medical expenses and personal purchases. Additional support services are available based on the individual’s needs.

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How Can I Get More Information?

If you would like more information, contact the Barber National Institute at (814) 878-4043

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What We Hear About Lifesharing:

"Taking Ben and Rita into my home helped me to discover that family means so much more than children, aunts and uncles. I now know that family is a special place in one’s heart where the most treasured people reside. And anytime one’s heart can open up and know more love than it did before, the world is a better place."
~ Lifesharing Provider

"I just love having a family, I really do!"
~ Julian, Lifesharing Participant

"Sharing my life with my friend has been one blessing after another. When we first entered the Lifesharing program, we were meeting a need for the individual, but now it is a mutual relationship—we meet each other’s needs."
~ Lifesharing Provider

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