Sharing homes - could it work?

The Guardian this week looked at a Homeshare project, where students or young people are placed in houseshares with the elderly. The student will agree to live there and look after the elderly owner (a certain number of hours each week) in return for significantly lower rent. Housing sorted for the student, care sorted for the owner.

This is an interesting concept, but as with all live-in care situations, would have to be very carefully regulated to avoid abuse of the system or of the individuals involved.  Whilst the positives are clear (financial and social benefits for both parties), and advice is given about making clear rules from the start (how much care should take place, what form that will take etc), I can see no mention on the Homeshare website about CRB checks or any other checks which take place to minimise potential threat of abuse.  I am in two minds.  Whilst the case studies (across the world) illustrate how the scheme can work, I am left wondering if there are any stories illustrating how the scheme can go wrong...

Mark Sadler