Making Shared Care a Reality – Resource Launch
As we move into the next phase of the “Shared Care” initiative, we are proud to announce the official launch of the Making Shared Care a Reality – Resource for Care Home Staff. This resource has been developed in collaboration with seven pioneering care-home pilot sites, and is specifically designed to support staff in developing the skills, mindset and practices needed to implement shared care for people living with dementia.
Background & Purpose
The initial report by TIDE, Making Shared Care a Reality, highlighted the importance of continuing carer involvement after a person with dementia enters residential care. The new staff-resource builds on that work, translating insight and evidence from the pilot sites into practical tools, guidance and learning materials tailored for care-home teams.
What’s New in This Stage
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Engagement of seven care-home pilot sites to test, co-design and refine the resource – ensuring it is grounded in real-world care-home practice and reflects the voice of both staff and family carers.
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A focus on staff development: enabling care-home teams to adopt and embed shared-care practices, not simply as an ‘add-on’ but as an integrated way of working.
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A presentation and resource pack geared toward enabling:
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better recognition of the carer’s role as partner (not merely visitor)
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improved communication and working relationships between staff, family carers and residents
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practical steps and reflective learning for staff to develop shared-care competences
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The official launch event marks the roll-out and availability of the resource for wider use across care-home settings.
Why This Matters
Shared care is about enabling carers of people with dementia to remain actively involved with the person they support — even once they are living in a care home — thereby enhancing continuity, relationships, quality of life and wellbeing. For care-home staff, developing shared-care skills means working in partnership with family carers, acknowledging their knowledge and emotional connection, and creating a culture of co-working. This shift supports more person-centred, relational care.
What’s Next / Action Points
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Following the launch, care homes across the UK are invited to adopt the resource, engage staff teams with the learning materials, and incorporate shared-care approaches into their everyday practice.
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The goal is for shared-care to become standard practice in care homes — so that carers and staff work together as part of the same care-team around the person living with dementia.
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The development of a resource for unpaid carers in early 2026.
Conclusion
This launch is a significant step in making shared care not just a concept, but a practical reality within care homes. By equipping staff with the right tools, mindset and support developed collaboratively with pilot sites, we believe we can transform how care homes engage with family carers — enhancing relationships, improving outcomes and supporting more inclusive, person-centred care for people living with dementia.