How caring for her parents inspired a mission to transform home care with dignity, compassion and unwavering purpose.
Clare Jeffries’ journey into the care sector began not as a career choice, but as a deeply personal experience. When her parents needed support, she found herself navigating an unfamiliar and overwhelming world, filled with emotion and uncertainty. What she encountered was not the standard of care she had hoped for.
The service provided to her parents lacked compassion and attentiveness; her mother was overlooked due to administrative oversight, and Clare herself, even though a next of kin and their daughter, was excluded from important conversations about their wellbeing.
That experience became a turning point for Clare as she recognised that care could – and should – be delivered differently. She saw an opportunity to help other families avoid the same distress and confusion she had faced. If she could offer clearer guidance, stronger support, and truly person-centred care, she could make a meaningful difference not only to those receiving care, but also to the families who stand beside them.
Sixteen years on, that founding mission remains unchanged. Clare has built her work around the belief that families deserve better: better communication, better understanding, and care delivered with dignity and respect at its core. By creating Home Instead, an award winning home care to older people nationwide. Created in 1994, the founders were searching for a way to keep their 89-year-old grandmother at home ‘instead’ of going into residential care. Grandma Manhart became their very first client and since then, the care expertise has led the organisation to become the world’s largest global home care network supporting more than 100,000 older people worldwide.
The realities of the care sector soon made it clear that resilience would be essential. Emotionally and financially demanding, the industry requires both strength and unwavering purpose. Clare drew on her own experience as a daughter in need of trusted support, allowing her to empathise deeply with the fears and frustrations many families carry. By staying closely connected to that purpose, learning from mentors, and surrounding herself with like-minded professionals, she has remained committed to raising standards in home care.
The return of Darling magazine in print resonates strongly with Clare’s values. In a world increasingly dominated by fast-paced digital interactions, the printed page offers something more enduring. It invites readers to slow down, reflect, and reconnect. For many older people, magazines like this are more than a source of information; they are a vital link to their community, offering familiarity, reassurance, and inclusion.
This sense of connection is central to Clare’s work. Within her organisation, she has observed a notable shift in the needs of those seeking support. While practical care remains essential, there is a growing recognition of another, often overlooked need: companionship.
More individuals and families are reaching out not because of illness or inability, but because of loneliness. They are looking for someone to share time with; whether that means a walk, a meal, attending appointments, or simply having a conversation. Loneliness is increasingly understood as a significant factor affecting wellbeing, confidence, and overall quality of life.
In response, Clare has championed the expansion of companionship services. These roles focus not on tasks, but on relationships — building trust, offering consistency, and creating meaningful human connection. A companion can help someone regain the confidence to step outside again, rediscover hobbies, or feel less alone in their own home.
For Clare Jeffries, companionship is not an optional extra. It is fundamental to living well. Her work continues to be guided by a simple but powerful belief: that care, in all its forms, should honour dignity, foster connection, and truly support both individuals and the families who love them.
Read all about Clare Jefferies and Home Instead in our latest ‘Nurturing’ (Spring) issue of Darling Magazine – out in circulation.
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