Shared Living
Get some respite and rest assured that your loved one is in good hands.
We are currently accepting applicants to become residents or housing providers in our Shared Living program. To request more information about our Shared Living program for Adults with Disabilities, please complete the application form.
Our Shared Living service provides housing and support for adults with disabilities in Central Maine and surrounding areas while also offering a source of income for the providers of these services. Whether you are interested in providing this service, or you are the parent of a son or daughter with a waiver, you can be trained at no cost to become a shared living provider . If your loved needs disabilities care, they can move in with a full-time provider, or you can earn income by partnering with us to receive support.
Contact Us About Becoming a Shared Living Resident or Housing Provider Today!
A member of the NorthEast Residential Services team will review your information and respond back to you to explore options.
Shared Living Provider Needed
Learn about our long-term shared living services in Maine
What is shared living?
This service provides housing and support for adults with disabilities in Central Maine and surrounding areas while also offering a source of income for the providers of these services. Our goal at Northeast Residential Services is to go above and beyond when it comes to coordinating this incredible opportunity for qualifying providers and the individuals they support. At NorthEast Residential Services, we specialize in working with adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism.
Whether you are interested in providing this service, or you are the parent of a son or daughter with a waiver, you can be trained at no cost to become a shared living provider. Northeast Residential Services partners with Northeast Training Services to offer this training in a comfortable setting. Our goal is to incorporate these individuals into a family-style setting where they can form connections in their household, family and community. These adults will also learn how to be more independent and live outside of their family’s home.
If you have a loved one with these needs, they can move in with a full-time provider, or you can earn income by partnering with us to receive support. With the oversight and assistance of Northeast Residential Services, as a service provider you can receive $130 daily plus a room and board payment. If your loved one needs more face-to-face, in-home support and oversight, take advantage of our shared living services today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some common questions about our Shared Living Program.
I’m interested in providing or receiving shared living services, where should I begin?
It is essential that anyone interested in providing shared living services understand they are an independent contractor, along with the full scope of expectations and requirements. Both providers and recipients of shared living must start by reviewing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ guidelines for shared living, found here:
I would like to support a family member or loved one with shared living services, but they are not approved for the section 21 or 29 waiver to receive this service. What should I do?
The following link will guide you to apply and be approved for any section 21 or 29 service, including shared living:
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/get-support/adults-intellectual-disability-and-autism
How much do I get paid to provide shared living?
NRS pays each shared living provider $125 per day on a contractual basis. Additionally, the shared living provider signs a lease agreement with the person they support and will receive monthly room and board.
How often will NRS pay me?
NRS pays shared living providers on a bi-weekly basis. Shared living providers must ensure all daily documentation required is complete for NRS to bill for the service and render payment to the shared living provider.
Do I need to apply for NRS to accept me as a shared living provider? Will I be interviewed?
Yes, NRS utilizes a thorough application process you must complete for us to assess your knowledge and readiness to provide shared living services. If you are deemed a qualified candidate, you will be interviewed to determine a mutual fit.
If NRS agrees to become my oversight agency, how long will it take for me to be approved to provide shared living services?
NRS must ensure that you have completed all required trainings and background checks, your home has been inspected per DHHS guidelines by an NRS appointee, your location has been approved for MaineCare services, and a person for you to serve has been located and approved for service. This process can take 30-90 days or more depending on multiple factors. If you are looking to serve a family member or have identified someone you may serve, this can expedite the process.
Do I have a choice in who I serve? How will NRS help me find someone to provide services for?
You have a choice of who you serve, and NRS will work with you to ensure the best match. You can expect a team meeting and visits with a prospective person served so they can determine the best fit as well. NRS helps find someone for you to serve by responding to OADS (Office of Aging and Disability Services) vendor calls for this service, renewed weekly.
Does NRS provide me with training for shared living?
NRS asks that you attend new provider orientation, along with several trainings that we provide, free of cost to you. NRS will provide the following trainings if you don’t currently have them:
- Shared Living Administration Course (SL-MAC)
- College of Direct Support (every year)
- Bloodborne Pathogens (every year)
- First Aid/CPR (every 2 years)
- Reportable Events Training
- Safety Care (optional dependent on behavioral challenges, renewed yearly)
*In person training classes will be held at out training room at 19 Portland Road, Suite B, Gray, Maine, 04039
Will there be reminders/prompts to alert me when my trainings are about to expire and need to be completed again?
NRS utilizes an employee management system called Paycom to track training certifications. Paycom will alert shared living providers when a certificate is going to expire 30 days, 7 days, and 1 day before expiration. It is important to remember that shared living providers are contractors and ultimately responsible for ensuring that their trainings are up to date.
What type of documentation do I have to perform to be a shared living provider?
Documentation is a critical and mandatory part of shared living. You will be required to document a daily progress note and medication passes in an online software system called Therap. You will also be required to report and document reportable events.
Does NRS provide respite or alternate shared living providers for when I need time off?
NRS does not provide respite staff, however, we will assist with training alternate shared living providers on a case-by-case basis to ensure anyone providing support to the person being served is meeting all requirements. The alternate shared living provider would provide support when you are unable. Alternate shared living providers have the same expectations and required background checks a primary shared living provider has.
If a qualified person assists me with providing shared living support when I need time off, how will they get paid?
As a contractor, a shared living provider is responsible for determining payment to an alternate shared living provider. Payment to alternate providers does not fall under the scope of NRS oversight.
Can a spouse or family member help me with shared living?
Only one person can be approved as the primary shared living provider. However, another person can provide alternate shared living services like a family member or spouse. They will be required to have the mandated trainings and background checks required for the service.
How often does NRS conduct home inspections for a shared living provider?
Per DHHS regulations, NRS will complete home inspections bi-annually, ideally six (6) months apart, at the initiation of a contract, and within 30 days of a new placement. Onsite inspections will be documented on an approved home visit form.
How often will NRS perform a home visit to meet with the person I am serving?
Per DHHS regulations, NRS will do a home visit every other month with phone contact during the month that the home is not visited. The individual residing in the home must be present for at least two (2) of the Oversight Agency visits per year.
How will NRS help me ensure I am meeting HCBS (Home and Community Based Services Waiver) standards in my care?
We expect those contracted to perform shared living services to understand the HCBS waiver and how to maintain its standards. However, we provide our shared living providers with the same policies we utilize in our residential homes for you to keep on site and review with the person you are serving.
What type of personal documents do I need to provide NRS to perform shared living.
As part of shared living requirements, NRS is required to obtain the following. Our human resources department will guide you through everything you need.
- Copy Driver’s License
- Copy of HS Diploma or GED
- Copy of Automobile Registration
- Copy of Automobile Insurance
- Copy of Homeowner/Renter’s Insurance
- Proof of Vaccinations for Pets
Join the NorthEast Residential Services family
Want to open up your home to local adults with disabilities? We provide income opportunities and free training to caretakers who provide long-term residential services for adults with developmental disabilities.
For shared living to work successfully, the disabled adult and caregiver must:
- Both have responsibilities in the household
- Be on equal footing and depend on each other
- Have their own living space to be their genuine selves
Mutual love and respect are essential in any shared living space.
To learn more about our long-term residential services, contact us at (207) 657-1387 for more information.
