How Referrals Work (for Link Workers, GPs and PCNs)

Homeshare is a practical, non-clinical support option that can help older people feel safer, less isolated and more confident at home, without replacing regulated care.

For Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs), GP practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Homeshare can sit alongside other community interventions where the main challenges are loneliness, low mood, anxiety about being alone (especially at night), or day-to-day practical strain.

This guide explains when Homeshare is suitable, what it does and doesn’t provide, and a clear referral pathway you can use.

What is Homeshare?

Homeshare is a supported, intergenerational living arrangement.

An older person (Householder) offers a spare room to a carefully vetted Homesharer. In exchange, the Homesharer provides:

  • Companionship

  • Practical help around the home

  • Reassurance and an overnight presence

Homeshare is not personal care and does not include bathing, toileting, medication administration, moving/handling, or clinical tasks. It’s designed for people who benefit most from human presence + light practical support.

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Why Homeshare fits social prescribing

Homeshare can be particularly relevant when the driver of need is psychosocial rather than clinical:

  • Loneliness / social isolation

  • Reduced confidence after bereavement

  • Low mood linked to living alone

  • Anxiety about nights (feeling unsafe alone)

  • Carer strain (family under pressure)

  • Day-to-day practical overwhelm (shopping, routines, light tasks)

  • Maintaining independence at home (without escalating to residential care)

It can complement other social prescribing options (befriending, community groups, carers support, falls prevention programmes), while offering something distinctive: reliable, in-home companionship.

Who is suitable for Homeshare? Referral indicators

Homeshare tends to work best when the person:

  • Lives alone (or is alone for long periods)

  • Has a spare room and a safe home environment

  • Would benefit from regular companionship and reassurance

  • Needs light practical help (not personal care)

  • Can agree household boundaries and communicate preferences

  • Is willing (consenting) to share their home with another adult

A good “social prescribing” fit is someone who is “managing” but is at risk of decline because they are isolated, anxious, or lacking day-to-day support.

When Homeshare may not be appropriate

Homeshare is usually not suitable when:

  • Significant personal care is required and not already covered by a care package

  • There is advanced dementia or high levels of disorientation that make co-living unsafe

  • There are unmanaged risks (e.g., frequent falls without a plan, unsafe home conditions)

  • Safeguarding concerns cannot be mitigated

  • The person does not consent or strongly does not want someone living in the home

Homeshare can often work alongside an existing care package (e.g., carers visiting for personal care), where Homeshare provides companionship and overnight reassurance.

What does the Homesharer do?

Activities are agreed in advance and typically include:

  • Shared meals / regular conversation

  • Light household tasks (tidying, bins, basic cleaning)

  • Shopping support or accompaniment (where agreed)

  • Simple meal prep

  • Tech help (phone/video calls)

  • Lifts to appointments

  • Being around in the evenings and overnight for reassurance

Not included: personal care, clinical tasks, lifting/handling, or anything that requires care training.

Referral pathway: step-by-step

1) Identify suitability in a brief conversation

Useful framing for Link Workers:

“Would having someone living in the home for companionship, light practical help and reassurance make day-to-day life easier, without it being a care service?”

Quick checks:

  • Consent/willingness

  • Spare room available

  • Personal care needs (and whether there’s a care package)

  • Immediate risks (safeguarding / home safety)

2) Make a referral to Two Generations

A referral usually includes:

  • Contact details

  • Presenting issues and goals (e.g., reduce isolation, feel safer at night)

  • Current support in place (family, carers, community services)

  • Known risks / considerations (falls, hearing, mobility, pets, smoking)

  • Communication needs (language, accessibility)

Refer someone / referral form

3) Provider assessment and home check

Two Generations typically completes:

  • Structured assessment of needs, preferences and expectations

  • Home environment discussion (suitability and safety considerations)

  • Clarification of what Homeshare can/can’t offer

  • Agreement on boundaries (routine, guests, quiet hours, shared spaces)

4) Matching (quality over speed)

Matching considers:

  • Personality and lifestyle fit (routine, sociability, work patterns)

  • Support needs and what’s realistic and appropriate

  • Clear expectations on time and presence in the home

  • Trial period and several meetings to ensure compatibility

This is not “filling a room”, it’s a compatibility match designed to be stable.

5) Vetting and safeguarding checks

A robust Homeshare scheme includes:

  • Identity checks, risk assessment and references

  • Enhanced DBS checks

  • Interviews and screening

  • Clear safeguarding policies and escalation routes

6) Agreement and move in

Includes:

  • Written agreement (house rules, expectations, notice periods)

  • Settling-in plan and check-ins

  • Clear “what to do if…” guidance for concerns or conflict

7) Ongoing support and review

Good practice includes:

  • Regular check-ins and phone calls

  • Named Account Manager contact for both parties

  • Review points and adjustments if needed

  • A safe process to end a match if it isn’t working

What outcomes can PCNs expect?

While outcomes vary, Homeshare may support:

  • Reduced loneliness and improved wellbeing

  • Increased confidence at home (particularly evenings)

  • Reduced family carer pressure

  • Earlier identification of issues (because someone is present day-to-day)

  • More sustainable independence at home

For PCNs, it can be a helpful option for patients who are below the threshold for formal care but clearly need more support to stay well.

Referral checklist for Link Workers and GP teams

Consider Homeshare when the patient:

  • Is isolated or anxious living alone

  • Would benefit from companionship and light help

  • Has a spare room and is willing to share their home

  • Does not require personal care (or has care in place)

  • Has risks that can be assessed and managed (falls, home environment, safeguarding)

FAQs for PCNs

Is Homeshare a care service?

No. Homeshare is not regulated personal care. It’s a supported living arrangement that provides companionship, practical help, and overnight reassurance.

Can Homeshare be used alongside a care package?

Yes. If carers or family already provide personal care, Homeshare can complement this by reducing isolation and providing reassurance at home.

What safeguarding checks are in place?

Checks typically include identity verification, references, interviews/screening, and DBS checks where appropriate, plus ongoing support and monitoring.

How long does it take to set up a Homeshare?

Timeframes vary based on local availability and matching needs. Schemes usually prioritise a safe, compatible match over speed.

What if the match doesn’t work out?

A supported Homeshare provider will have a clear process for addressing issues, adjusting expectations, and ending a match safely if needed.

Refer a patient or discuss suitability

If you’re a Social Prescribing Link Worker, GP practice or PCN team and want to explore Homeshare as an option for a patient, you can refer directly or speak to the team about suitability. Contact us here