The day before her birthday in 2020, Personal Support Worker (PSW) Farbiola met her first home care client, Raphael, an 81-year old man who was dying from cancer and couldn’t eat or walk on his own. Five years later, Raphael, now 86, is still with us, and he says, it’s thanks to Farbiola.

“I didn’t want to eat. I couldn’t get out of bed, and she made me,” Raphael recalls laughing. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer. I’m here today because of Farbiola.”

“I can be stubborn sometimes,” Farbiola shared, remembering those initial days caring for Raphael. “I could see that he was giving up, that I needed to try to get him to eat and move a little bit. His family warned me that he could be set in his ways even when he’s feeling weak, and that he didn’t like being told what to do.”

Farbiola and Raphael hit it off almost immediately. Since their first meeting, they’ve developed a close bond, with Raphael often sharing stories about his childhood and time in the army. Farbiola believes that spending time talking and truly getting to know each other has been an instrumental part of his care. “While Raphael still has cancer and is considered palliative, now he goes outside and even drives again,” Farbiola said.

While Farbiola and Raphael have a very special connection, relationships like theirs are a common occurrence in home care.  Home care PSWs, nurses and rehab providers care for thousands of Ontarians of all ages in their own homes, often for weeks, months and even years at a time. Care providers get to know their clients, their unique needs, and their families deeply, in the space where they are most comfortable – home.  They ensure that each and every client receives care when and where they need it most with the added benefit of companionship and social connection.

Home care specialists like Farbiola reduce pressure on the health system by caring for people in their own homes, vastly improving their quality of life by helping them to live safely and independently in their communities.

The meaningful connection with clients is also important to home care workers themselves. For Farbiola, Raphael reminded her of her grandmother. Farbiola immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 from Grenada. Shortly after, her grandmother got sick in Grenada and Farbiola’s mother made the difficult decision to stay behind to take care of her. Farbiola always regretted not being able to share this responsibility and care for her grandmother in her final days. Now, as a PSW, she sees the impact her care and compassion is having for Raphael.

“I’ve always loved taking care of people, and it is rewarding to be able to care for someone over such a long time,” Farbiola said. “I love being able to make him smile.”