Dementia and Memory Loss Driving Growth in Homesharing
Putney-based provider issues report on new model for care
Picture: Share and Care Homeshare
June 24, 2026
A new report has identified dementia and memory loss as the leading reasons older and vulnerable people are turning to homeshare arrangements,
Putney-based Share and Care Homeshare has released its 2026 Homeshare Impact Report, revealing how the model is reshaping the social care landscape and helping people remain safely and independently in their own homes for longer.
The report shows that 51% of homeshare arrangements are now driven by dementia or memory loss, reflecting the growing complexity of needs among ageing populations. Other key reasons include reduced mobility (25%), eyesight problems (9%), depression and anxiety (7%), Parkinson’s disease (5%) and hearing loss (3%).
Homeshare pairs an older or vulnerable householder with a carefully matched sharer who provides companionship and up to 10 hours a week of practical support in exchange for low-cost accommodation. The model is increasingly seen as a powerful preventative tool within social care, offering reassurance, reducing loneliness and helping people avoid or delay the need for residential care.
The report by the Community Interest Company highlights the wide-ranging benefits of homesharing, including overnight reassurance, enhanced security, support with everyday tasks and a trusted presence in the home. For many families, it offers a sustainable alternative at a time when care costs are rising and public funding is stretched.
One of the most striking findings relates to falls prevention: among householders previously considered at risk, 77% had not experienced another fall since a sharer moved in.
The data also illustrates the intergenerational nature of homesharing. The average age of householders is 87, with the oldest at 98, while sharers range from 22 to 78, with an average age of 41. Nearly nine in ten sharers say they take part because they want to help someone else.
Share and Care Homeshare founders Caroline Cooke and Amanda Clarke said the findings reflect two decades of lived experience.
“Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen first-hand how homeshare can transform lives,” they said. “The primary drivers – particularly dementia, mobility challenges and loneliness – are exactly where compassionate, person-centred support is needed most. With care costs escalating and less public funding available, families are searching for sustainable alternatives. Homeshare not only represents excellent value, but works alongside existing care to help people remain safely in their own homes.”
As the organisation marks its 20th anniversary, it is calling for greater recognition of homesharing within mainstream social care strategies. The report argues that by combining practical support with companionship, homeshare delivers outcomes that matter not only to individuals and families but to the sustainability of the wider health and social care system.
The full 2026 Homeshare Impact Report is available via the Share and Care Homeshare website.
For more information, contact 020 3865 3398.
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