A mother and daughter from Coedkernew, near Newport, have realised a joint ambition and set up a new home care company.

Karen and Laura Clatworthy have set up Home Instead Senior Care, which will specialise in providing care for older people in their own homes and will create 50 jobs in the coming year.

The company specialises in providing companionship-based care as well as personal care. With this in mind clients and caregivers are matched based on shared interests and care visits are of a minimum one hour in duration.

Karen and Laura have both been involved with a family business, MLC Technology, a steel shredding business in Newport but were keen to branch out on their own.

The family have experienced the importance of good care as Laura’s brother, James, now 22, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 13. This has meant prolonged stays in hospital and care and support at home.

Karen said: “We fully understand the need for caring and compassionate support and the difference that it can make to a person’s wellbeing.

“Our clients will be older than James was when he needed care by some chalk, but good care is good care, whatever the age of the recipient.

“We have a really simple aim and that is to provide a service which will enable older people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, while improving their quality of life.

“Our service will look after a person’s physical as well as emotional and social needs. We will provide companionship, interaction and stimulation and this is just what our elderly community needs.

“Care will be tailored to each client’s specific needs and in doing so we will make a real difference to the quality of life of not only our clients, but their families too.”

Home Instead services include personal care such as dressing, eating and medications; home help covering all aspects of day-to-day housework, shopping, meal preparation and household duties plus companionship services that can involve everything from escorting clients to appointments through to simple conversation and good company.

Karen and Laura are now on the lookout for like-minded individuals who are kind and compassionate and who may be interested in joining the company.

Laura said: “We need local people to come forward and be part of our team. We will only employ people who are absolutely committed to making a difference, treating our clients with dignity and respect and working to the highest professional standards.

“The way in which we operate is unique and this allows us to offer a different working environment for our caregivers. We can’t wait to get started!”

The Newport office will serve clients in the Newport, Cwmbran, Langstone, Caerleon, Underwood, Castleton and Goldcliff areas.