Homeshare vs Care Homes: Which Is Right for Your Loved One in Northern Ireland?

When your mum or dad begins to need a little more support, families often face a difficult question — should we look at a care home, or are there better, more personal options?

Across Belfast and Northern Ireland, more and more families are searching for “help for elderly parents” and “alternatives to care homes”. What they’re discovering is Homeshare — a warm, trusted solution that allows older people to remain in their own homes with companionship and light support.

At Elder Home Share, we’ve spent over 10 years helping families across Ireland find the right match for their loved ones — and now, we’re bringing that trusted service to families in Northern Ireland.

👉 Important: Elder Home Share is not a substitute for the medical or personal care provided by a nursing home. Instead, it offers companionship, reassurance, and support that can help older people stay at home longer, delaying the need for full-time care until it’s genuinely the right next step.

When the time does come to consider nursing homes, families in Northern Ireland can access helpful information and guidance through resources like NI Direct’s Care Homes Guide to make informed decisions.

Why Families Consider Care Homes

For many families, a care home is the traditional next step. It can provide structured support, but it often means leaving behind a beloved home, community, and way of life.

For an older loved one, this can feel unsettling. For their children, it can bring emotional and financial worries.

How Homeshare Works

Homeshare offers a simple, safe, and human solution:

• An older person remains in their own home.

• A carefully reference companion moves in, offering light support and company.

• The companion gets affordable accommodation.

• The family gains peace of mind.

One of our wonderful companions Deniss recently shared their experience:

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been a home share companion with The Elder Home Share. Throughout my time, Saoirse always made sure I felt comfortable and happy with the family and the person I was living with.”

This personal connection is at the heart of Homeshare — it’s about real people, trust, and meaningful relationships.

A Personal Touch That Care Homes Can’t Offer

Unlike a care home, Homeshare allows your loved one to stay independent in the place they love most — home.

“My experience with the family was excellent, and I was able to build a very positive and warm relationship with the person I shared the home with.”

That warmth and trust can’t be manufactured. It grows naturally when the right match is made — something we’ve specialised in for over a decade.

Saoirse Sheridan, the founder of Elder Home Share, knows this better than anyone. She personally homeshared for several years, experiencing first-hand the difference it makes.

“Homesharing isn’t an alternative to nursing homes,” Saoirse explains. “But it absolutely helps people remain at home for longer. That night-time presence — and the steady, reassuring daily relationship that’s built between the homeowner and the companion — provides a sense of security and calm at a time of vulnerability and change for the senior homeowner.”

This lived experience is what shapes every match we make. Elder Home Share isn’t just a service — it’s built on real understanding.

Why Families Choose Elder Home Share Northern Ireland

Elder Home Share has supported families in Ireland for over 10 years — and now we’re proud to bring that trusted approach to Northern Ireland. Families choose Homeshare because it offers:

• 💚 Companionship and connection — easing loneliness and building trust.

• 🏡 Familiar surroundings — no need to move into care.

• 🕊 Independence with support — the right balance of help and freedom.

• 💸 Affordability — a cost-effective alternative to traditional care homes.

“I highly recommend The Elder Home Share to anyone looking for a meaningful home share experience with a team that truly cares about both its companions and clients.” Deniss companion

A Trusted Part of the Care Journey

Elder Home Share isn’t about replacing nursing homes — it’s about giving families more time, more choice, and more comfort before full-time care becomes necessary.

Homeshare is often a bridge: keeping older people at home for longer, surrounded by familiarity and kindness, until nursing home care is genuinely the right next step for their needs.

For more information about care homes in Northern Ireland, visit the NI Direct Guide to Care Homes.

Is Homeshare Right for Your Loved One?

If your loved one wants to stay at home but could use:

• Companionship and reassurance

• Light support around the house

• A trusted presence rather than institutional care

…then Homeshare could be the perfect solution.

👉 Learn more at www.elderhomeshare.co.uk and discover how we’re helping families across Northern Ireland find companionship, reassurance, and peace of mind.