Jim and Mary Ann Clark are uniquely qualified to oversee the southern Utah branch of Seniors Helping Seniors®. The 20-year-old organization—founded by Kiran Yocum, a native of India who worked with Mother Teresa for 14 years, and her husband Philip—brings love, dignity and respect into the lives of seniors through in-home connections with other seniors. St. George City Lifestyle caught up with Jim and Mary Ann, who shared how their lifetime of service has led them to this new chapter.
SGCL: How long have you been in St George?
Jim: We moved to Hurricane in 2015, and built next door to my dad, with my brother on the other side of him. It was great to spend that time with him. We moved to St. George last fall.
SGCL: How did you connect with Seniors Helping Seniors?
Jim: My brother and I helped provide my dad’s end-of-life care before he passed in 2023. I’d been an insurance actuary for 39 years, but my position was eliminated a few months later. A franchise broker reached out to us, asking if we’d be interested in an opportunity with Seniors Helping Seniors. When we heard that we could provide a similar type of care to others, it felt like something we wanted to get behind.
Mary Ann: I was a homemaker; we have four kids, all of whom are married, and we have ten grandkids. We’ve spent our lives serving others. This was the perfect next chapter for us.
SGCL: What sorts of services do you provide?
Mary Ann: We provide a wide variety of services, including companionship, friendship, transportation, cooking and housekeeping. We talk with our clients and learn what they like to do, such as playing games, watching sports on TV, and other hobbies they have. Then we match them with people who enjoy the same activities.
SGCL: How have you found the right caregivers to work with your clients?
Mary Ann: A lot of our employees have cared for family or friends previously. This job gives them the opportunity to serve others in a way they love because of their past experiences.
Jim: Because we’re recruiting seniors, we don’t require any special licensing or certifications, although many have nursing or CNA backgrounds. We allow our seniors to structure how many hours they want to give, and what kind of services they want to provide. We want everyone’s time to work for them, while still providing the best possible care for our clients.
SGCL: How has business been so far?
Jim: We just became certified by the Veteran’s Administration. We’re making connections with the senior centers in the area and other businesses. We are enjoying meeting the many wonderful people in southern Utah.
SGCL: What would you say to local seniors who might be interested in working with you?
Mary Ann: One of our company’s taglines is “a way to give and receive.” Our clients give, by paying for services; our caregivers give, by providing those services. Caregivers receive by making an income and building valuable relationships; our clients receive by being able to stay in their homes, receive care, and develop wonderful friendships so they can age with dignity and independence in their own homes. Our work is based on love and compassion.
For more information about Seniors Helping Seniors Southern Utah, visit:
locations.seniorshelpingseniors.com/ut/st-george/227.html
Marianne Hamilton is a lifelong journalist whose work has appeared in regional and national publications.