Cláudia doesn’t hide her happiness. She says that her “heart is full” because she has managed to get one of her clients to get up twice a week so that she can eat at the table. No small feat considering that the patient had spent ten years in bed without getting out of it. Cláudia is thrilled with the achievement, which in fact is an achievement for both of them, for the work they’ve done together. Alda also feels that “this is where she needs to be”, with the patients. It is this life of dedication, support and sharing that brings her happiness and makes her feel professionally fulfilled. She says without a moment’s hesitation that she is ‘very grateful’ to be able to do what she does.

Cláudia is an occupational therapist and Alda is one of 53 carers at the home care service of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Almada, a city where around 185 people regularly receive Sorrisos ao Domicílio, one of the 15 projects supported by the Gulbenkian Home Care initiative.

Through personalised activities of leisure, rehabilitation and training, this project, which runs every day of the year from 8am to 11.30pm, aims to break away from the paradigm of home care for older people centred solely on providing basic care.