Positive Ageing Week – Connecting generations through home care 

There can sometimes be an assumption that when younger and older generations come together, knowledge, help, and support travel in one direction, but the relationships between Dovida Caregivers and their clients tell a different story.  

This year’s Positive Ageing Week is all about ‘Connecting Generations’, and when our Caregivers and clients come together, they learn from each other and discover that knowledge and ideas flow in both directions, connected by the power of stories.  

For Dovida Fairview Caregiver Vanessa Souto that exchange is one of the things she enjoys most about her work.  

“One thing that’s really nice for me is that I learn things from my clients. I help them, but they help me as well. I learn things about life, about Ireland, and this is really good for me.” 

Living history  

For Janet Lopez Nunez, a Dovida Caregiver originally from Mexico, her clients have provided an insight into Irish life and history that she believes would be impossible to find in a textbook.  

“I know a lot about the history of Ireland because of them. Sometimes, there are things that I would never learn in college or in a programme because they were living in the time that the history was passing.”   

Her clients have shared memories of Ireland during periods of significant social change, as well as stories about how Dublin once looked, including how the River Liffey has changed and how O’Connell Street was once home to a famed fountain.  

“They have stories of great adventures,” Janet says. “They share that with me, the easy times, the hard times, the relaxing times… I love those kinds of stories, and they’re deep in Ireland. So, I’m learning all the time.”   

Fellow Fairview Caregiver Juana Tizcareno Duenas has had a similar experience. For her, the stories her clients tell are one of the most rewarding aspects of being a Caregiver.  

“When you are with the clients and they tell you about their life or they share a moment, or even when you start to get to know them better, know their routine and the things they like, for example, words in Irish, or speaking Irish, books or music, you can learn a song and start to sing with them, it’s very nice,” she says. “That part is a little gift that you take with you.”   

Life lessons that last  

Sometimes, what is passed between generations is less tangible but even more significant.  

Dovida’s National Caregiver of the Year 2026, Emma McGrath, says supporting one client recovering from a stroke taught her something she has carried throughout her work.  

“This person taught me the importance of encouragement.”   

Her relationships with older clients have also shaped the way she thinks about her own life and the kind of person she wants to be.  

“I have massive respect for older people, and working with them on a daily basis has taught me so much about myself, who I am, and who I want to be.”   

Emma says working with older people has also reminded her of something every generation has in common: ageing is an experience that, with luck, awaits us all.  

“We will all grow old and eventually need a helping hand, and if that hand can have respect and compassion, it will definitely mean a lot.”   

Intergenerational and cultural exchange  

The learning does not only travel from older clients to their Caregivers.  

Dovida Ballsbridge client, Robin Gordon, described how meeting Caregivers from different countries has helped keep him connected to the wider world from his Dublin home.  

“Some of my Caregivers come from interesting places, most of which I’ve never been to. So, it’s like travelling, armchair travelling, for me.”   

Robin enjoys hearing about his Caregivers’ home countries and discussing their experiences of living in Ireland.  

“I’m very interested in hearing about their home country, and what they think about Ireland. There’s always plenty to talk about, and that keeps the wheels turning,” he says. “I find them all interesting, and there’s always plenty of conversation and exchange of opinions and views.”   

Common ground  

Dovida Live-in Care client, Mary O’Hare, has found common ground with her Caregiver Carolina through a shared passion for fashion.   

“We have a lovely relationship. Carolina is kind, interesting, and great company. We enjoy sharing stories about our lives and families, and because we both worked in the fashion industry, we have plenty to talk about.”   

But the exchange goes beyond companionship. While Carolina supports Mary with daily life, Mary has something she can offer Carolina too.  

“We have lots of enjoyable conversations, and I like helping her with her English when I can.”   

Keeping generations connected at home  

Connecting generations isn’t limited to the relationship between a Caregiver and client. Supporting an older person to remain at home can also help them continue playing an active role within their own family.  

When Kate Gray’s father developed increasing care needs, the family turned to Dovida for support. Being able to remain in the home where he had lived for more than half a century meant he was able to continue spending time there with his young granddaughter.  

“He has a little two-year-old granddaughter who is the light of his life and all of our lives. For him to be able to spend time with her in the place he’s called home for 53 years is something we all cherish,” said Kate.  

His Caregiver has also become part of everyday family life. Kate describes them going for walks, singing songs and doing exercises together, and says finding someone her father could connect with and who could “fit into the family” was especially important.   

“When you’re letting someone share those intimate moments, it has to be somebody that you can connect with. It was really important that we found the right person to be able to fit into the family,” she said.  

Lifelong learning   

Caregivers bring support, companionship, new experiences and perspectives into their clients’ lives, but as Vanessa so simply puts it, the relationship works both ways.  

“I help them, but they help me as well.”   

By creating opportunities for generations to spend time together, listen to each other and share their experiences of the world, everyone has a chance to learn something new, no matter their age.