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 a long-term commitment to support people in becoming a part of a home and a community. It is an alternative to a group home, foster care, boarding or residential program.
Adam and Marilyn
Marilyn and Adam have been living in a Nonotuck Resource Associates Inc. shared living household for several years.
“Shared living is a big decision,” Marilyn says. “You have to be committed.”
One of the key goals of shared living is to ensure people become embedded in their community. Adam’s interests include: music, church choir, going out for dinner, swimming at the YMCA, horseback riding, and more. Marilyn is there to support Adam to live his life based on his choices and ambitions.
At Nonotuck, we support shared living providers like Marilyn with the tools and guidance they need so that the people we serve can live their most authentic and meaningful lives. Marilyn appreciates the support Nonotuck provides, stating: “If anything happens out of the ordinary, you can call 24/7 and they will be there for you.”
We facilitate and support shared living throughout Massachusetts, with offices in:
- Berkshire County — (Lee, North Adams)
- Hampshire County — (Northampton, Easthampton)
- Worcester County — (Auburn, Harvard)
- Middlesex County — (Lowell)
- Bristol County — (Brockton)
- Plymouth County — (Plymouth)
- Barnstable County — (Centerville)
- Essex County — (Lynn)