Meet Yoshi: A Leora Support Worker bringing his own rhythm to care

We all have something that says a little bit about who we are. It might be the way we move, the food we cook, the places we love, the things we collect or the hobbies we keep coming back to.

For Yoshi, that something is music.

But music is not just something Yoshi enjoys on the side. It is woven into the way he listens, connects and moves through the world.

As one of Leora Healthcare’s Support Workers, that attentiveness is part of what he brings into his work with clients.

Yoshi’s connection with music started early. “When I was younger, I loved listening to music,” he shares.

From there, his interest kept growing. He picked up the bass, moved into jazz and later discovered the gramophone, an old-style music player that changed the way he thought about sound.

For Yoshi, the gramophone offered something different from modern digital music. It was slower, warmer and more textured. There were small pauses, soft crackles and imperfections that made people listen differently.

He came to appreciate what he describes as pure acoustic sound, the kind that gives people time to settle into the moment.

At some point, Yoshi realised the gramophone was not something he wanted to enjoy alone. So he began taking it into nursing homes, sharing music with older people who may not always respond straight away, but may still recognise the feeling of a familiar song, sound or memory.

That says a lot about the way Yoshi supports people.

He understands that not every moment needs to be rushed or filled with words. Some people need time before they respond. Some need a quieter approach. Some need the room to feel calmer before they are ready to engage.

Yoshi’s love of music has helped shape a way of being that is observant, patient and responsive. And in care, that can make all the difference.

Before working in care, Yoshi was a professor in Japan. His journey into care began when he visited an institution for people with intellectual disability and was asked to teach English. What stayed with him was not just the teaching, but the way people responded to him.

“There’s no gap, no distance.”

That line says so much about how Yoshi sees people.

He noticed openness, connection and the feeling of meeting someone without barriers. That experience helped lead him toward work that is not only about teaching, supporting or assisting, but about being with people in a way that feels warm and authentic.

For Yoshi, music is not about performing…it is another way to connect.

As a Support Worker, he can support clients with daily routines, community access, transport, companionship and activities. Music is simply one of the personal touches he brings into those moments.

A familiar song can start a conversation, bring back a memory or help a room feel calmer. For older people, it may support reminiscence and comfort. For people with disability, it can also encourage expression, participation and shared enjoyment.

This is not the same as clinical music therapy, which is delivered by qualified music therapists. But in everyday care, music can still have a meaningful place when it is shared with respect and understanding. And for Yoshi, that comes naturally.

When asked about what advice he would give to someone entering the care sector, his answer was simple:

“First of all, I think you have to have a passion for people.”

That line feels like the thread running through his story.

That is Yoshi.

Here at Leora, Support Workers like Yoshi remind us that care is shaped by people, not just services. Their stories, cultures, interests and personal touches can help support feel more thoughtful, more comfortable and more connected to the person receiving it.

If you are looking for support at home or in the community, we can help match you with Support Workers like Yoshi, and many others, whose skills, personalities and interests may align with what matters to you.

Because the right support is not only about what gets done. It is also about who walks beside you while it happens.

Experience how we do support matching at Leora.