Shared Living

Shared Living brings together a person, a couple, or a family in the community with a person who has a disability to share their lives in an authentic, loving, and respectful relationship of mutual dependence.

Shared living thrives when there is a mutuality of love and respect. The person served and caregiver are on equal footing. Each has responsibilities, and they can both depend on each other. This is where each person has the space to live their most genuine lives, with opportunity, choice, and a voice. Nonotuck fosters this dynamic for the people we serve and caregivers through support and oversight.

Shared living is an alternative to a group home, foster care, boarding or residential program. Shared living is a long-term commitment to make someone a part of a home and a community.

Adam and Marilyn

“Shared living is a big decision,” Marilyn says. “You have to be committed.” 
 
Marilyn and Adam have been living in a Nonotuck Resource Associates Inc. shared living household for several years.
 
One of the key goals of shared living is to help people participate in community and family activities, which in turn help create a home life and valued relationship. Adam’s activities include: music, church choir, going out for dinner, swimming at the YMCA, horseback riding, and more. And Marilyn is there to help Adam live his life based on his choices and ambitions. But she isn’t alone.

Nonotuck helps make sure shared living providers like Marilyn have the skills and resources they need and also helps ensure that the people we serve can live authentic lives. Marilyn said she appreciates the support Nonotuck gives shared living providers.
 
“If anything happens out of the ordinary, you can call 24/7 and they will be there for you,” she said.
 
With Nonotuck’s support, everyone in a shared living household works to develop authentic, loving, and respectful relationships of mutual dependence.