What began as a childhood lesson in kindness has evolved into a full-fledged business that now serves countless individuals across Jamaica.

For Veneish Wallace, CEO of Eliza Care, caregiving was never just a job; it was a calling passed down from her grandmother, Eliza Grant, who spent her life providing care to those in need.

“This was embedded in me by my grandmother, Eliza, whom I named my company from,” Wallace told the Jamaica Observer in an interview.

Compassion and service have long been at the heart of Eliza Care, a home health-care provider dedicated to ensuring that the elderly and vulnerable receive quality support in the comfort of their homes.

Sitting outside the home of one of her clients, Wallace reflected on her early years, recalling how she had accompanied her grandmother through the community of Wilmington, St Thomas, helping to care for elderly residents who had no one else. She recalled how, as a child, she carried ‘scandal’ bags of food, flour, mackerel, and other essentials to distribute among those in need.

“My grandmother used to allow us to walk around and clean people. I mean, literally, clean persons. Bathe them. Like, not joking. Sometimes when I entered the room, I’d say, ‘Uh-uh, I’m not doing this.’ But my grandmother always pushed me back inside there and told me to be pleasant to these persons,” Wallace shared with the Sunday Finance.

By the age of nine, Wallace was actively involved in caregiving, often without gloves or disposable wipes. As she grew older her responsibilities expanded, even as she struggled with feelings of embarrassment in her adolescent years. However, a song her grandmother often sang — “If I could help somebody along life’s way, then my living will not be in vain” — reminded her of the deeper purpose behind her work.

Though Wallace tried pursuing other careers, including accounting and office administration, she found herself continually drawn back to caregiving.

“My calling was still reaching out to persons just to care for them,” she said.

By her twenties, Wallace had fully embraced the health-care field, recognising that home health care could be a business, not just a charitable act. She attended nursing school before travelling to the Bahamas to work in home health care. Working with paraplegic patients, individuals with tracheostomies, and others with complex medical needs reinforced her belief that she could transform caregiving into a sustainable venture.

Her grandmother passed away in 2000, but by then Wallace had already laid the foundation for Eliza Care, officially launching the business in 2010. However, the company emerged as a lifeline in a time of hardship, when Wallace had been laid off from a health-care provider and, without a steady income, she started making calls to potential clients. Her breakthrough came when her first client entrusted her with home-care services.

“Lorrise Higgins gave me the opportunity to birth Eliza Care,” Wallace stressed, noting that today, 40 per cent of the company’s clients are referrals from Higgins and her family.

Fifteen years later, Eliza Care has grown into a trusted name in home health care, providing a range of services including personal care; meal preparation with a focus on nutritious, home-cooked meals; daily activities and games to promote mental engagement; transportation for errands and outings; and post-surgical care. The business also offers live-in nursing care, though nurses are rotated every three days to prevent burnout.

Importantly, Eliza Care operates with flexible pricing, working within patients’ budgets rather than enforcing fixed hourly rates. Wallace’s long-term goal is to expand Eliza Care beyond her leadership, transforming it into a fully structured company that will endure beyond her tenure.

“I need Eliza Care to grow so I can leave a legacy,” she told the Sunday Finance. “I don’t see myself running Eliza Care as CEO forever, because that is not possible. But I don’t want Jamaica, or anywhere else, to miss out on experiencing care from someone who truly understands what it means to be there when people need it most.”

Her ultimate dream is to revolutionise home health care, allowing more people to age in the comfort of their own homes and be “cared for as if they’re in a five-star hotel”, rather than be forced into institutions.

She is, however, encouraging people to seek care before a crisis arises, urging families to reach out early for assessment and support.

“We are here to serve, not just because you think you need somebody to care for you. Oftentimes, people don’t think they need help, but they do. Let us come in, analyse the situation, and care for you accordingly,” she added.