Father's Day makes me think of grandpa

When I saw the advertisement to be an intern at Elder Home Share, I knew I had to apply. The idea of helping a business that the core is to match a companion with a elderly in exchange for a place to live filled me with joy: I would be able to help someone who still has a lot to teach to overcome loneliness. I couldn't help but think about my grandfather at that moment and how he and the whole family would benefit from a service like Elder Home Share provides, but we don't have anything similar in my country.

My grandpa taught me a lot. He spent his whole life working in agriculture in a small town in the Brazilian countryside. Every week, he sold bananas at the street market—and I was his little helper. My tiny hands couldn’t hold a sickle properly, so I used a small knife to help him cut plants whenever we went into the fields to gather grass for the horses. I wanted to be just like him—strong and determined. I even wanted to shave my “beard” like he did, even though I’m a girl. I loved spending time with him. At the end of a long day, he would pour me a cup of coffee filled with water, and we would share a simple stew together.

When I was five, my parents decided to move us to a city 2.000km away in search of better opportunities for me and my brother. We left behind the quiet life, the open fields—and grandpa. He couldn’t read or write, so letters weren’t an option, and back then, phone calls were too expensive. For years, we lost touch. When I finally saw him again, it was wonderful. We talked for hours. He kept telling stories about how bold and outspoken I was as a child, especially to anyone who tried to prank me.

Before I moved to Ireland, I spent a whole month with him. But he had changed. After my grandmother passed away four years earlier, grandpa became sad, lonely, and fearful. He didn’t want to leave the home he had built with his own hands. At first, the family hired a caregiver, but it didn’t work out. In the end, my aunt moved from her city to live near him—our only real solution to offer him the support he needed.

The last time I was with him was at my farewell party. That day, he sat quietly in the garden, just staring at his hands. The same hands that once built a house, swung a sickle, and held bunches of bananas—now weak and trembling. I could see the frustration in his eyes.

As Father’s Day approaches, I find myself thinking of him even more—his strength, his gentleness, and the quiet ways he shaped who I am. This work is, in many ways, a tribute to him and to all the fathers and grandfathers who gave us so much. It fills me with pride to see older people getting the companionship, dignity, and support they deserve. If you would like to learn more about Elder Home Share and How it Works reach out to us today.

Camila and her grandpa Luiz in 2023