Geelong home carers offering to spend Christmas with their clients

Migrant home carers unable to be with their loved ones this Sunday will be sharing Christmas Day with their ‘adopted families’.

Home care support worker from the Philippines Gary Fanlo (right) will be spending Christmas Day with his client Peter Wishart (left). Picture: Supplied

Migrant home care support workers are doing their part to ensure everyone enjoys the Christmas season.

Home carer Gary Fanlo migrated to Australia from the Philippines in 2019.

As Mr Fanlo is not able to spend the Christmas Day with this family back home, he will spend this Sunday with his client Peter Wishart who has a form of Parkinson’s disease.

“We might go down to the beach ... enjoy the sunshine,” Mr Fanlo.

On Christmas Day in 2021, Mr Fanlo took his client to a family reunion which he said was a “priceless moment” for him.

“Those moments go beyond our pay ... it’s very rewarding,” he said.

“It’s important that we be there for our clients, no matter what day of the year - they deserve to enjoy their day too.”

Mr Fanlo said he enjoys spending time with the elderly as they remind him of his own grandparents who helped to raise him back in the Philippines and describes his fellow home carers and clients as “like family” to him.

But he is not the only home carer who will be spending Christmas Day with his clients or ‘adopted family’.

Home Instead Geelong owner Giovanni Siano said migrants make up 20 percent of his workforce, many of which won’t be able to spend the festive season with their loved ones so are happy to keep their clients company on Sunday.

“I was heartened to see people putting up their hand up Christmas Day this year to ensure our clients, many of whom are quite isolated, can feel some of the Christmas spirit,” he said.

Mr Siano came to Australia as a migrant himself in 2011 from Italy and said he understands how life without a support network, especially during the festive period, can be challenging.

“I fully appreciate what it is like to feel lonely and now I feel privileged to be supporting our clients during these sacred celebrations,” he said.

Originally published as Geelong home carers offering to spend Christmas with their clients