Celebrating Culture, Care, and Community with Vitra Health CEO Dr. Lorena DaSilva .
In a special episode of the Vitra Plus Podcast, host Krystal Troncoso sits down with Vitra Health CEO Dr. Lorena DaSilva to talk about her Brazilian and Latino heritage, the role caregiving played in her family, and why understanding culture is so important when caring for others.
The episode also marks a first for Vitra Plus as the podcast’s first episode presented in English.
Growing Up with Care at the Center
Dr. DaSilva was born and raised in Goiânia, Brazil. While she grew up speaking Portuguese, she shared an important reminder that Latino identity reaches across many countries, languages, cultures, and traditions.
“We cover many nations, languages, culture, traditions,” she said. “But at the end of the day, we all pull together as being this outstanding, phenomenal, very rich culture.”
For Lorena, one of the values that shaped her most was caring for loved ones at home.
She recalled how her grandfather spent the end of his life in her mother’s home, surrounded and cared for by family. Her great-aunt was cared for in the same way.
“It is really important for us that when people are at their most vulnerable point…that we are there for them,” Lorena shared.
She described caring for loved ones at home as a way of honoring everything they have given throughout their lives.
That experience is also part of why Vitra Health’s mission feels so personal to her.
“The whole concept of caregiving for me, and part of the reason that I really love what we do at Vitra, it really represents a big part of how I grew up, my values, and how I was raised.”
Care Starts with Understanding
As both a nurse and a healthcare leader, Lorena also spoke about the importance of understanding the person behind the care.
“Care really starts at the point of understanding,” she said.
That understanding can begin with something as simple as speaking the same language, but it goes much further. Culture, traditions, religion, family relationships, and personal beliefs can all affect how someone understands their health and responds to care.
For example, understanding someone’s background may help a nurse or caregiver better understand why a person takes medication a certain way, follows a particular tradition, or feels more comfortable with one approach to care than another.
For Lorena, these connections are an important part of building trust.
A Workforce That Reflects the Community
That same belief shapes how Lorena views Vitra Health’s diverse team.
She shared that more than 70% of Vitra employees are part of a diverse group, whether through their language, culture, immigrant background, or life experience.
Many of the communities Vitra serves reflect those same backgrounds.
“Our staff is very diverse. They understand the culture, they speak the language, there are immigrants, first generation here, and then you look at our clients, it is a match.”
Lorena said working alongside Vitra’s Latino and Hispanic employees also gives her a personal sense of connection.
“It’s more of a connection and a daily reminder of who I am, where I came from, and the importance to honor that.”
Seeing how Vitra employees care for one another and the people they serve brings her back to the values she grew up with.
“It’s a feeling of home.”
Celebrating Who We Are
For Lorena, Hispanic Heritage Month is both a celebration and an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States.
But her message extends beyond one month.
She wants Vitra’s Hispanic and Latino employees to understand just how important they are to the organization and to the people they serve.
“You, our employees, are at the heart of what we do and who we are,” she said.
The trust employees build with clients comes not only from the work they do, but from the understanding, connection, and shared experiences they bring into a person’s home.
Lorena ended the conversation with a simple message for the community:
“Let’s celebrate who we are…never lose who you are. Celebrate, spread the goodness to all.”
Listen to the Full Episode
Hear the full conversation with Dr. Lorena DaSilva on the Vitra Plus Podcast as she shares more about her Brazilian and Latino heritage, her family’s experience with caregiving, and how culture continues to shape the way she leads Vitra Health.
Listen on Spotify or watch on YouTube for more conversations about caregiving, culture, health, and the people who make a difference in our communities.
If you or someone you love needs help staying safe and independent at home, Vitra Health is here to help. Our team can tell you about our home care programs, answer your questions, and help you learn about your options.
Visit www.vitrahealth.com to learn more.
Listen to us on Spotify or watch us on YouTube for more simple tips about health, aging, and care at home. 
