Heart of Care: Emma
With her adorable granddaughter by her side, a bag full of cards, and a full heart, Emma entered the room.
Originally from Quebec, Canada, Emma came to the United States after marrying an American and settling here with her family. Today, she is the proud grandmother of two, the youngest, Abigail, who we had the pleasure of meeting during our time with her.
Over the past 11 years, Emma has built a life here — and an incredible career with ABC Home Healthcare. Judging by the “small” stack of notes and letters she brought with her from grateful clients and families, it’s clear she has made a lasting impact on many lives.
Within the first 30 seconds of meeting Emma, it was easy to see why.
She is the epitome of wearing her heart on her sleeve — and in Emma’s case, that heart shines through her smile, her eyes, and every word she speaks.
Just listen to what some of her clients and their families have to say:
“Thank you for taking care of my mother — and me. You are a wonderful person. I consider you a friend.”
“I want to thank you for all the wonderful care you gave my mother.. She really enjoyed your company, and you even made her smile.”
“Thank you for all the care and support you provided to my mother. I am eternally grateful. She thought of you in a very special way and enjoyed her time with you.”
“We are so happy Mom has you to take care of her. You are such a special person.”
“Emma, you are a generous person with a beautiful spirit, which showed in the wonderful care you gave. The world could use a million of you.”
Emma’s accolades come in every client message she receives. But for her, caregiving has never been about recognition.
“When they tell me they don’t know what they’d do without me,” Emma said, “I feel like they pay me without money.”
For Emma, caregiving is about the small moments — the simple acts of kindness that make someone’s day brighter.
“It’s when I can wash my client’s hair and brush it and make them feel better that day,” she said. “It’s when I can make them a meal I know they like.”
Emma was hesitant to talk about herself during our conversation. Instead, she wanted the spotlight on her clients. As she spoke about each one — past and present — her eyes filled with emotion and her hand often rested over her heart.
“You get to be in someone’s life and provide them with care, and they appreciate it and recognize it,” Emma said. “That’s the best.”
Emma never worked in healthcare before moving to the United States, but it’s clear she found her calling.
Before joining ABC, she sometimes felt that her natural instinct to go above and beyond for her clients wasn’t always appreciated. In fact, she recalls being told by previous employers that she needed to “tone down” her work ethic — because when she couldn’t be there, it was hard to find someone who could replace the level of care she provided.
At ABC, we are grateful that Emma never changed who she is.
“These clients can be sick, and sometimes we’re the only people they see,” Emma said. “Why wouldn’t I want to make them happy?”
That mindset perfectly reflects what ABC is all about: caregivers who truly find purpose and peace in providing exceptional care.
“It’s a blessing,” Emma told us.
Emma expressed how supported she feels by the ABC care coordination team. Even though she already works full time, she says she would gladly work more just to spend additional time with her clients.
The relationships Emma builds go far beyond caregiving. In the stack of cards she brought with her were Mother’s Day cards, Easter greetings, holiday wishes, and even a sympathy card a client had sent after the passing of her brother.
Emma truly takes the phrase “treat your clients like family” to another level.
Yet when asked about the extraordinary things she does, Emma simply shrugs.
“I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do,” she said. “It’s me. It’s what I want to do. I just want to make them happy.”
When asked about challenges she has faced, Emma quietly shared a story about caring for a client with dementia.
“This disease is so sad,” she said gently.
“I try to remain peaceful for these clients. I try to send them positive thoughts. Sometimes they just watch me.”
She recalled one memory care client telling her she had a beautiful face.
“I win,” Emma said with a smile — explaining that if she can bring even one positive moment into someone’s day, that is enough.
At ABC, we see what Emma may not always say about herself: she is a people person not only on the outside, where she so clearly wears her heart on her sleeve, but even more so on the inside, where her heart is filled with empathy, compassion, and love.
And that is exactly what the Heart of Care is all about.
A personal note from the Author – Lisa Viliott – ABC Community and Marketing Liaison:
I hope you found something in it that resonates with you. If you have any questions, thoughts, or would like to chat more about a topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to connect and offer any advice or support I can!
