Norfolk carer celebrates a decade with family-run company

Care work proved to be the perfect career choice for a Norfolk woman who has recently celebrated ten years with Extra Hands.

Although she briefly tried her hand at labouring and working as a chef, Donna Eastaugh found her true calling when she took up care work, and has now clocked up 25 years in the industry – with over a decade at the Norfolk home-care provider.

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The 50-year-old officially joined Extra Hands in July 2013 – although she had in fact worked with the company prior to that.

“I’ve actually been there for 14 years altogether,” she said. “I did it for four years and then went elsewhere for two weeks, but didn’t like it, so I came back. I think I was always meant to do care work – it’s really rewarding and heart-warming and you know you’re making a difference. The service-users really do appreciate you.

“The bit that always gets me is when they thank you or give you a smile or laugh – that’s what I love. They always say keep it professional, but when you see someone every day for 13 years, they become like family.”

Mrs Eastaugh, who lives in Brundall and works from the company’s Broadland office in Horsham St Faith, received a card and a bouquet from her colleagues to celebrate her milestone anniversary.

“I love working with the other carers, and especially taking new carers out when they are ‘shadowing’,” she continued. “It’s really lovely to show them how we are with people. They get to see how we do things, and it’s the best way to learn.”

And having spent half her lifetime caring, Mrs Eastaugh has no plans to deviate from her chosen career path.

“After a couple of weeks, people become comfortable with you and you build their trust. It’s lovely when you make that connection,” she adds. “There are so many different stories that they tell you, and we do have a giggle.

“There was a man a few weeks ago who was hobbling when I arrived, and his wife called out that he’d also lost his false teeth. So I sat him down and took off his slipper, and there in his slipper were his false teeth – we’d solved both problems in one go! We giggled like mad!

“Sometimes my husband asks why I don’t do something else, as we do work hard and it’s long hours, but I know I couldn’t leave them.

“This job is not for everyone, it’s really not, but once you start doing care work and see what a difference you’re making, it’s really rewarding.”

Extra Hands provides bespoke, home-care packages across Norfolk and also has a branch in Heacham.