Shared Living offers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a supportive home where individualized care, meaningful relationships, and community connection help them build independence and pursue the life they want to lead.
- This page, DDS Shared Living, is offered by
- Department of Developmental Services
DDS Shared Living
How does Shared Living Work?
Your DDS service coordinator and the area office team will refer you to a Shared Living provider agency in the area where you want to live. The referral will share information about you and the type of setting you want to live in. The Shared Living provider agency will work to identify a Shared Living caregiver who would be a good match for you. You would then have the opportunity to visit that Shared Living caregiver and their home to see if it seems like a good match for you. If both you and the Shared Living caregiver agree it would be a good match, your service coordinator will work with you and the Shared Living provider agency to plan a successful move into that home. If it doesn’t seem like a good match, your service coordinator will work with you to look at other options.
Could Shared Living Be Right for You or Somone You Support?
Shared Living may be an option for adults who are eligible for residential services through the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and who would benefit from individualized support in a home-based setting.
It can be a particularly good fit for someone who wants the stability and connection of living in a home while receiving support with areas such as daily routines, developing greater independence, participating in the community, building relationships and working toward personal goals.
Shared Living is not one-size-fits-all. It needs to be customizable. The individual, their support needs, preferences, compatibility with a potential caregiver, and the type of home environment in which they would thrive are all important considerations in determining whether Shared Living is the right option.
Interested in learning more? Explore Shared Living, hear from people who have experienced it, and talk with your DDS team about whether it could be a good fit.
Are You an Individual Supported by DDS?
If you are an individual supported by DDS and you have been prioritized for 24/7 residential supports, Shared Living is an option for you. If you are interested, contact your service coordinator and let them know. If you don’t know who your service coordinator is or you need your service coordinator’s contact information, use this link to find and contact your local DDS area office. DDS Locations
Are you interested in becoming a Shared Living caregiver?
If you are interested in becoming a Shared Living caregiver, thank you for your interest and we are happy to talk with you and share more about what is involved and the appropriate next steps. For a list of Shared Living provider agencies in your area that you could contact to learn more, click here: Shared Living Provider Agency List by DDS Region and Area.
How does the funding work for Shared Living?
DDS identifies an operational rate that it pays the Shared Living provider agency and a stipend that the agency will pay the Shared Living caregiver. Both will depend on the support needs of the individual supported by DDS who will be receiving the Shared Living service.
Do Shared Living caregivers get time off?
Yes, Shared Living caregivers are provided with a certain amount of respite time off each year. The Shared Living provider agency is responsible for coordinating and providing the respite for the Shared Living caregiver. The amount of respite per individual per year varies depending on the support needs of the individual and the Shared Living operational rate they are assessed to receive.
Is training and ongoing support available to Shared Living caregivers?
Yes, the Shared Living provider agency that you contract with will provide you with the initial training you need and will provide you with ongoing support and information. Depending on the support needs of the individual, they may receive additional supports at home in addition to the supports you provide. That will all be determined as part of the development of the individual’s Individual Supports Plan or ISP.
The role of the Shared Living Caregiver:
- Provide a safe, supportive living environment
- Willingness to engage in skill development and teaching
- Assist in medical management
- Participate in community inclusion and relationship building
- Engage in training opportunities
- Membership in the Individual Support Plan Team
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Shared Living Provider Agency List by DDS Region and Area Office, Open XLSX file, 27.97 KB (English, XLSX 27.97 KB)
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