Holding Space, Not Just Hands

She was younger than most of the clients I support—79, bright-eyed, and full of life experience. A former teacher at an Aboriginal school, she'd dedicated her life to others. Then came the diagnosis: a large brain tumor. Though she survived, she lost the career that gave her purpose—and more recently, her husband to Alzheimer’s.

When we met, she believed my business—My Aide In Life—might be the answer to her prayers. And at first, maybe I thought I might be too. She wasn’t looking for home care—she was seeking something more.

But here’s the thing: I don’t call myself “home care.” We’re more than that. We’re Lifestyle Care Partners—or lifestyle companions, if you will. Whether we’re tidying the kitchen or chatting over tea, the heart of what we provide is emotional connection, gentle guidance, and personalized support for wherever someone finds themselves in life. Sometimes, what people need isn’t a service—it’s presence, connection, and to be truly seen.

Our session evolved slowly. What began as an interview turned into something deeply emotional—raw and revealing. She didn’t feel I was going to be the solution she imagined, and she said so. I’m not a counsellor. But I am someone who listens, who holds space, who doesn’t rush the moment.

And as we talked, something shifted.

Over the course of 2.5 hours, her clarity grew. She held my hand tightly before I left. We hugged, we cried. She had let me into her world—and in that window of time, what she truly needed wasn’t a service she’d originally imagined.  It was a connection.

We may never see each other again. But I left that day feeling deeply grateful that I could be an Aide in her life, even just for that window of time. That is the essence of this work.

This work isn’t about checklists or fitting into a mold. It’s about showing up for people—in transition, in grief, in healing. We meet them where they are, with open hearts and listening ears.  Because true care begins with connection.

Robyn Wilson