Today, on the International Day of Caregivers, we present the ESSENTIALS project. An initiative aimed at valuing attention to the elderly and raising visibility for the team of professionals in the Home Care Service (SAD) of Suara Cooperativa in Catalonia.
Over the past four years, a photographer has accompanied Olga Cortés, Efrem López, Laila Bouchateb, Mª Jesús García, Ana Campos, and Lola Sánchez, family workers in Barcelona, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Mollet, to learn more about their daily lives, their work, and the life stories of those they serve.
Through this project, you will meet Dolores and Gabriel, originally from Alloza, a village in Teruel known for mining and agriculture, who recently lost their daughter. They are cared for by Efrem López, one of the few men working as a family caregiver in Suara. He explains that “double the effort must be made to break the taboo, and within the care collective itself, it is also necessary to change the mentality." When his grandfather died, he went to live with his grandmother in Sant Boi in ordert to keep her company and ensure she was well. This sparked his interest in social healthcare. He enjoys working with people, especially building trust gradually.
We also spoke with Isabel, who was a butcher at the Sant Antoni market and later in the Raval. She and her husband were provided with their apartment through a prize from La Quiniela. She is served by Laila Bouchateb, who has been a family worker with Suara for nearly six months in the Raval area of Barcelona, after five years working as a home assistant in the Marina neighbourhood.
María Jesús García has been a family worker at SAD Suara Mollet since 2015. She is a mother of two, living in Les Franqueses. She now feels she is doing what she has always wanted: helping those in genuine need and offering quality of life to those who have little. Her favourite areas are child and mental health services because she sees the tangible results of her work. One of her clients is Francisco, who emigrated from Jaén when he was young. She enjoys discussing politics with him and believes things have changed in Catalonia since then.
Once a week, Lola Sánchez offers mentoring from Suara Cooperativa’s offices in L’Hospitalet. Based on her experience and broad perspective, she advises colleagues to start with or take on challenging cases. She combines face-to-face meetings with follow-up calls. “Who cares for the caregiver?” Lola asks. "It must be done organisation-wide, and it is vital,” she concludes. She notes that “this is a sector in which you never stop learning. Passing through a home is always a challenge, and we must adapt what we have learned,” explains Lola. “We are not nurses, doctors, psychologists, therapists, or professional cooks. But we do a bit of everything. We receive a lot of gratitude from families. Ultimately, what we all want is a little attention,” she adds. Currently, she is very interested in new digital projects to improve the lives of people with dependencies.
Marisol is an excellent cook but finds it difficult to stand. She is very happy with the help of Ana Campos, the family worker who visits her a few hours each week. Ana also loves cooking. Trained at the hotel school in Barcelona, she uses their time together to do many activities, which Marisol shares with her family. Ana also cares for Estrella, who comes from a troubled family background marked by abuse and addiction. Recently widowed, Estrella often feels nostalgic. With Ana, she converses extensively, accompanies her shopping, and they do cognitive exercises together. Recently, they formed a neighbourhood friendship group, and Ana has managed to leave the house more often.
Olga Cortés was just 19 when she had to leave her artistic diploma to care for her grandfather, who had fallen ill. She had considered studying interior design but chose caregiving instead, and she has no regrets. Today, she helps people with dependencies, such as Alfonso and Montse, a married couple from Sant Cugat. Alfonso suffered a stroke 20 years ago and requires constant care due to physical and cognitive decline. Montse is very grateful for the help from the three Suara caregivers who visit her daily, including Olga.
Their work is truly ESSENTIAL, and this report highlights their vital daily efforts and the stories of those they assist. You can read about over thirty of them here.
