$The image depicts a jazz band performing on stage, with five musicians playing instruments, including saxophones, drums, and keyboards, in front of a white wall with the \"Forme d\'Arte Jazz Club\" logo.$

1 / 10

See all photos

(10)

updated

Helping a jazz musician and his wife at our country house near Palermo, Italy

Italy
Last activity : 13 Jul 2025

Profile information

Host rating
100 %
Last replied
8 Jul 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 21 days
Feedback
21
Facebook verified
Email verified

Badges (4)

Give the gift of Workaway

Find your perfect host

Italy

(5)

Couples welcome to help us with outdoor projects in nature near Pescaglia, Italy

Vietnam

(2)

Join our family for a language exchange in the charming city of Hanoi, Vietnam

United States

(5)

Help with elderly companionship, meals, and your own creative project in Vallejo, California, USA

France

(20)

Ecological renovation help near the sea in the Brittany region, France

France

Join us for a cultural exchange in Toulouse, France

Greece

(2)

Join projects around our traditional house and vegetable garden in Petrokerasa, Greece

Sweden

(13)

Get in touch with unspoiled nature in the Swedish wilderness of Oviksfjällen, Dogsitting

Australia

(4)

Help a young welcoming family near Naarm, Melbourne, Australia

Denmark

Join our family and enjoy the nature in Vester Skerninge, Denmark

$The image shows three men standing in an airport, with a yellow sign reading \"hotel shuttles\" above them, and other travelers in the background.$

Netherlands

(15)

Assen, Netherlands. Help in and around my house: maintenance, painting and other stuff

View the full host list

Availability

2025

Min stay requested: at least 1 month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

What's this?

Details

Description
Hello, I am Luciana , I am a Waldorf teacher in Palermo. I and my husband we live in a country house in Monreale near Palermo. We are 70 and 78 years old. My husband , Larry, was a jazz musician playing tenor sax and flute. In the last 15 year he was suffering of dementia. Actually i need an extra help for some little job of maintenance in the house and in the garden and I will love some company for my self, I can't live Larry alone when I go to the market or for some short going aut in the day time
Larry health status is going worst in the last tree years and he has lost his ability to play and to speak. He can't walk and spends most of the time in the wheelchair or in the bed,He suffer of incontinentia. He need an help to heat and to drink.
I take care of him cleaning an dressing but he really needs to be with someone all time. He likes to hear music. If the weather is good he love to stay outside in the garden.
He is from Canada and he can understand most English. He loves music, dogs , cats and nature. We have two dogs, two cats and few chickens .
We have 2 sons , Daniele , a circus performer, and Luca, street artist and he has an atelier of serigrafia, they are living in Palermo and they have both there own family with small children of 2. 3 and 5 years hold.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Pets
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Farming
Culture
Plant care
Gardening
Books
Animals
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I will be happy to share my teaching experience, like a Waldorf teacher. I can teach italian to you if you like.
Palermo is a very interesting city from the historic and social aspects, I will be happy to help the volunteer to visit the city and to introduce them to hers cultural life.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
will like very much to have some help in the general maintenance of house and garden.

In the summer months, July and August, I will be most at home and I only need an help to live larry with someone in the time I have to go out for shopping. We can stay at home and farming together..
.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We offer a bed room with a small bathroom and an independent extra room, this accomodation it's ideal if you need a time for your self, to study or work.. but the most of daily life can happen in the house living room if you like it and we can share the cooking time, lunch and dinner. With a good weather we can enjoy the garden and the sun!
What else ...
I would like to offer the possibility to visit Palermo, Monreale or to do nice walks in the country near home in the afternoon and during the weekend. There are busses for Monreale that stop very near our home. But there are not direct bus for Palermo so if you need to go there often will be very good if you have your own auto or moto.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Yes I can! I have a stable connection to internet.
Space for parking camper vans
I have a space for a small camper.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Ginger

Host ref number: 634438955555

Website Safety

Feedback (10)

24 Jun 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Veronica)

Veronica è stata una volontaria molto gentile e disponibile. Ha aiutato in tutte le necessità. È stato piacevole state con lei : conversare e scambiare le nostre idee. Grazie cara Veronica per il tempo che ci hai dedicato. Ti auguro tanta fortuna e una buona vita. Lucian

(Excellent )

24 Jun 2025

Left by Workawayer (Veronica) for host

Luciana was an exceptional host and friend during my two-month stay here! I had a great time getting to know her and she taught me so much about Palermo/Sicily and its culture, history, and amazing food! The house was located in the most beautiful mountains and I got to see so much of the island and its gorgeous beaches with her help and guidance.… read more

(Excellent )

26 Dec 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (MariaFlorenciaa)

Flor is a wonderful person and I was very happy to know here. She had a very good feeling with Larry and with all the family. She was a strong worker and a very helpful person. We liked to share experiences and stories . She was curious of are language and of ate traditions.
I high recommend here if you look for a friend an for an helper. Good… read more

(Excellent )

19 Sep 2024

Left by Workawayer (MariaFlorenciaa) for host

This feedback has a long delay, but I feel it is important to record it. It was my first experience as a workawayer and I am really grateful from the moment I chose it and I was chosen by them. Grateful to live on the hill in Luciana & Larry's family, surrounded by nature and away from the shops. Grateful to know their family and friends, they are… read more all beautiful people. I stayed with them for a month but I would have stayed longer.

Their home is lovely, full of plants, flowers and animals. You can breathe in nature, enjoy Italian food, and the inevitable coffee and chats. With Luciana you can speak in English or Italian, she knows a lot and help you to let you know everything about Sicilian food, customs and Italian expressions, among many other things. Nando also knows a lot and you can speak Italian with him.

Larry is a gentleman, he is a smiling, kind and attentive person. It is easy to love him and do everything to make him comfortable.
Spending time with Larry is beautiful, imagine what a noble task it is to make the other person enjoy and have a good time!

Activities can be listening to music, dancing, taking walks in the garden, appreciating the beautiful flowers and plants, sitting at the sun in a pack with the two dogs and some cats until they fall asleep. Take a walk around the kitchen tidying up and looking for something tasty to eat, prepare a tasty snack. Or simply share the space while each one does different things.

Sharing with Larry means talking to him in English, looking at photo albums or photography books and listening with interest as he tells you some anecdotes in his own way.

It's going out on the town, whether it's to a group art activity, go for an ice-cream, or the circus. To share with Larry is to be attentive to whether he might be hot or cold, whether he is comfortable, whether he needs help eating, whether he prefers company or a nap on the couch, alone. To share with Larry is to understand his non-verbal language, to know quickly what he likes and enjoys and to know when he doesn't want something (he makes himself understood very well). Sharing with Larry and supervising him is a task that is easily done with love, and I am not saying that it is easy, on the contrary, it can be exhausting in many aspects for family members, but we workawayers are there to help in this human network because together it is better. The key to everything in life is to do things with love, respect and commitment.

(Excellent )

16 Sep 2024

Left by Workawayer (Isabel & Ray) for host

We had an amazing month long stay with Luciana and Larry. The house in in the beautiful country side about an hour by bus to Palermo, and fifteen minute Monreale. Over the course of a month we helped care for Larry, learned to cook incredible Sicilian food, and explored the nearby cities. Our day-to-day consisted of sitting with Larry and looking… read more

(Excellent )

View all 10 feedbacks

Photos

Show all photos

Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(4.9)

Communication:
(4.9)

24 Jun 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Veronica)

(Excellent)

24 Jun 2025

Left by Workawayer (Veronica) for host

(Excellent)

26 Dec 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (MariaFlorenciaa)

(Excellent)

19 Sep 2024

Left by Workawayer (MariaFlorenciaa) for host

(Excellent)

16 Sep 2024

Left by Workawayer (Isabel & Ray) for host

(Excellent)

18 Oct 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Rebecca)

I was very happy to know Bec, she is a wonderful person: helpful , friendly, sensible and joyful. The times we spend together where really full of exchanges, talking, and laughing. She was very gentle and communicative with Larry. Thank you dear, lovely Bec for your help from me and Nando

(Excellent)

22 Apr 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Julia & Kelly)

Julia and Kelly were a fantastic guests. Allways ready to help us, joyful and interested in the cultural life. I thanks them so much to be here with us to help Larry and to shate our family life.

(Excellent)

21 Nov 2022

Left by Workawayer (Julia & Kelly) for host

Our stay at Lucianas and Larry's was our first Workaway. We could not have asked for a better first experience. Luciana was kind and funny and a amazing cook. She treated us like family and gave us great recommendations for the area for our time off. We mostly spent time with Larry and did a few things in the garden and helped with light cleaning… read more

(Excellent)

21 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Amanda & Henry) for host

I’ve been thinking about the review for weeks, but words can’t tell how special was this time with Luciana and her family. I’m writing this review in English so more people can read it, but I would like to say that I’m an Italian speaker now, thanks to Luciana!

But first of all, if you have the chance to go and stay with them, do it. We’ve lived… read more there for 5 months, and we don’t regret a single day. We have a toddler that start walking and talking during this time, and now he’s an Italian speaker as well. 5 months with them, and now we feel part of the family.

I’m gonna start with the “job”: we used to be with Larry when Luciana left the house, because he can’t be unsupervised. It’s an easy thing to do, he’s super chill and can stay for hours just looking at the old photo albums he used to make. The other hours, he’s looking for food, and that’s when he won’t stop hahahahah I call him “cerca-cibo” (food steward). We need to be very careful with that, otherwise he will eat anything, including the cat’s food! Hahaha but most of the times it’s not like that. Unfortunately he sometimes are too weak and falls if he tries to walk faster, another reason we need to be around all the time.
We also used to cook some meals (I love to cook, so that was a pleasure for me), but Luciana always cooks delicious food as well. My husband has made also some small repairs and little things in and outside the house. It was never hard things though.
Most of the time we were watching Larry while the baby was playing around.

Now, about the time there in general. Luciana is that person that we sometimes are lucky enough to find. She has helped us with a lot of immigration stuff, that we would never be able to do by ourselves without speaking Italian. It wasn’t her job, so we can’t be grateful enough for all of that.
She’s a great mamma and nonna, always with a big heart to help those around her. She has taught us so many things, everyday with her it’s a day to learn something. I feel like I’m a better version of me now, because I will always remember a lot of her presence in my life.

In the meantime, she also taught us Italian, and she’s a graceful insegnante. Quando sono arrivata non poteva parlare o capire niente, adesso la mia testa fa questo cambiamento di lingua senza pensare troppo hahaha faccio alcuni errori, però so che me faccio capire! Grazie ancora per questo, Luciana. Parlare l’italiano me fa cosi felice.

And we met a lot of amazing people!
Nando, a longtime friend who lives with them and is always willing to look for something in the dictionary, and also loves their telenovela (Austin already misses this time together).
Rosa e Fabio, you’re such a fun couple and it was a pleasure to be around you, laughing out loud and tasting the delicious food that Rosa prepares. (I would like to add Roberto here, Rosa’s cousin that we met on the last minute and got us amused with his family stories hahahah).
Daniele and Fanny, and the baby Zaia that we “saw” being born, you were always very nice, gentle and welcoming toward us.
Also Luca, Jessica, Ada and Elia, Austin’s first little friend, you’re a beautiful family and we wish you all the best.
And big hugs to Suza and Claire!

Once again, thank you Luciana for having us for those 5 months. We will always be very thankful, and we can’t wait to be back and spend more sunny days with you. It’s good to know that we have you. You’re now part of our family, la nonna italiana di Austin. Ci vediamo presto!

(Excellent)

27 Jun 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Marco & Emma)

Marco and Emma were very gentle and helpfull couple. They take care of Larry with love and attentions. I felt very good to share the experiences with them and I wish theme all the best for their futur.

(Excellent)

5 Apr 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Jacob)

Jacob was a very good helper: very friendly. ready to work and supe good chef!!! It was very easy to comunicate and understand each outher. We wish him a lots of nice adventures in His trip through Italy.

(Excellent)

5 Apr 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Emi & Pau)

Our experience with Emi and herfriend Cathrine was fantastic. Very hepfull an social people! We had a lot of fun and good cooking, love and care. Thankyou Emi and Cathrine

(Excellent)

18 Mar 2022

Left by Workawayer (Emi & Pau) for host

Grande esperienza, rara ed indimenticabile.
Belle persone, bell'ambiente, belle risate.
Fanno crescere il cuore,
Grazie.

(Excellent)

2 Mar 2022

Left by Workawayer (Rebecca & David) for host

What a wonderful warm welcome from this lovely and interesting family! I really appreciated Luciana's kindness and sunny Sicialian spirit, and I felt instantly at home. The calm environment mixed in with family gatherings was just what I was looking for, and really helped me with my Italian. A great place to swap recipes, thank you to Luciana and… read more

(Excellent)

17 Feb 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Rebecca & David)

Rebecca was a wonderfull friend for us: she is a really sensitive person , comunicative and helpfull. She is a very good cook and she can make e tasty lunch with few ingredients! And we loved when she started to play her violin or the camanche with is beautiful sound. I thank Rebecca very much to be with us and she is allways invited to come again… read more

(Excellent)

9 Nov 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Mathilda & Liv)

Mathilda and Liv where a fantastic guests: they take care of us in a very gentle and loving way. Calm and silent but allways ready to help or to take a responsibility . Most of all they show to have feeling an empathy. We felt to have two nice doughters with us and it were a new and worm experience. Thanks to you! We wish all the best for your
… read more

(Excellent)

22 Sep 2021

Left by Workawayer (Rémi) for host

I stayed one short but very happy mounth at Larry & Luciana place.

It was a pleasure to help around the house and take care of the animals.
I could visit Palermo and Monreale, eat delicious food (thanks again for your excellent cooking Luciana !), improve my Italian and spent very good time with Larry Luciana and their family

Thanks for this… read more

(Excellent)

11 Sep 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Rémi)

Remy was a very nice , gentle and kind guest. We really enjoyed his company , he was very helpful, doing every things with calm and responsibility. He help us in the garden , in the manual work and he cooked very good meals. Thank you dear Remy!

(Excellent)

16 May 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Sebastian)

Sebastian was a very hepful and gentle person. We enjoid his company and he did every things are possible to help me and Larry.
He spent more than 3 months whith us becomig part of are family. He was very sensible with Larry and fully involved in his task. I thank Sebastian very mutch and hope all the best for his future.

(Excellent)

30 Mar 2021

Left by Workawayer (Sebastian) for host

I came in mid January 21 to Luciana and Larry and stayed three unforgettable months. My Job was mostly to stay with Larry in the mornings and do things with him like going for a little walk, have breakfast together, play music together or do little jobs in the beautiful garden like cutting the grass and preparing the wood for the wood stove.… read more

(Excellent)

29 Feb 2020

Left by Workawayer (Takács) for host

I had an amazing first workaway experience in Sicily. Honestly, I couldn’t have been more lucky. I'm very grateful for Luciana and Larry! They took me in as part of the family, I immediately felt at home, and I had a great time with them, so it's no surprise that this one month flew by quickly. I can’t thank you both enough. The nature at the… read more

(Excellent)

To leave feedback make sure you are logged in & your account is online

Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Italy Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Europe Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Sicily Family Italy Last minute Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Italy

Helping a jazz musician and his wife at our country house near Palermo, Italy

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Reply rate

Feedback

Facebook verified

Email verified

Badges (4)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Interests

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Projects involving children

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

Space for parking camper vans

How many Workawayers can stay?

My animals / pets

Feedback (10)

Photos

Feedback