Real customer stories
Discover how our clients have transformed their lives with compassionate care from Ocala Healthcare.
A Life Transformed
John found independence and comfort at home with Ocala Healthcare’s dedicated support and personalised care.
Kinga’s Story
What we love most about our business is hearing people’s stories. Why they got into care. What their best, worst and toughest experiences have been. And what they’ve learnt about themselves along the way.
Some people say they were born to care. Others say they fell into it. The beauty is – no two journeys are ever the same.
That’s why we’ve invited one of our amazing team members to be today’s guest blogger. Meet Kinga, who has worked with Ocala Healthcare for the past nine months and dreams of becoming a nurse. This is her story.
I’ve always wanted to do something that involved helping people, but I never had the confidence to do anything about it. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a doctor – a cardiologist, surgeon, GP, or someone working in A&E. But I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to manage the studying that I gave up on the idea.
Later, when it came to choosing a university course, a few friends suggested nursing. I laughed and told them there was absolutely no way I could do that. I had a completely wrong idea of what nursing involved – I thought nurses had the hardest job, dealing with the unpleasant side of care, and I didn’t think I could handle it.
Instead, I started a degree in psychology, hoping to become a therapist. But after two years, I realised that although it fascinated me, it felt more like a personal interest than a career path. I dropped out and took a job in hospitality, working as a waitress. I loved the social aspect – I’m an open and easy-going person – but I soon became bored. I needed more of a challenge.
I looked into office jobs, but without a degree or relevant experience, there weren’t many opportunities. And in truth, the idea of sitting at a desk all day didn’t really appeal to me anyway. Then I started noticing care vacancies – but most required experience or a car, which I didn’t have. So, I stayed where I was.
Eventually, I was offered a new opportunity in hospitality as a Front of House Manager. It was exciting at first, but after a few months, I felt stuck again. That’s when I came across a job advert that would change my life.
Taking the leap into care
I applied to become a Personal Care Assistant for people with spinal cord injuries. No car or experience required – and it was a live-in role, which meant I’d get to travel around the UK too.
I was nervous. People who had known me for a long time told me not to do it – that it would be too hard, that I’d already said I couldn’t handle nursing, so why was I considering this? Their words made me doubt myself, but deep down I felt this was what I needed to do.
After years of feeling lost and unsure of my path, I wanted purpose – and what better way to find it than by giving to others? I took the leap, and in serving others, I found myself.
Sadly, the travelling began to take a toll on my health, so I had to leave the role after a few months. But I now work mainly with elderly people and adults with learning disabilities, and that too has been a fantastic experience – one that humbles me and constantly reminds me to be grateful.
Lessons learnt from caring
I’ve met incredible people – some who’ve fought in wars, some who’ve travelled the world, and many who’ve shown me that life can be full and joyful, no matter the challenges.
Becoming a carer has taught me how patient I can be. It’s shown me how much love and compassion I have to give. I’ve learnt so much about the human body and mind – and it’s made me deeply aware that I won’t be young forever, and nothing about me is indestructible.
It’s motivated me to look after my health. I’ve stopped smoking. I’ve cut down on sugar and alcohol. Every day is a challenge – but every day is rewarding, because I get to make a real difference in people’s lives.
I’m now preparing to apply for a nursing degree – yes, the same path I laughed off five years ago!
The moral of the story
So, what’s the takeaway? First – don’t panic if you haven’t figured everything out yet. Give yourself time. What’s meant for you will find its way.
Second – being a carer or a nurse is so much more than most people think. Maybe you should give it a chance too?
If you’d like to share your own story, contact Adam at Ocala Healthcare on adam@ocalahealthcare.co.uk.
Sam’s Story
People often ask me:
“Why do you do this?”
“How did you get started in care?”
Or the classic – “Did you always want to work in care?”
Truthfully, I often stumble when answering. Just like I stumbled into the industry at a young age. When I was at school, I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do – but I did know I wanted to help people.
I first found my passion for mental health while studying Psychology at sixth form. I loved understanding how psychology could be used to support people, and from there I dreamed of becoming a psychologist, specialising in mental health. I went off to university to pursue that dream – but meanwhile, one of my friends took a gap year working as an agency carer. I was intrigued.
During the long university holidays, I joined the agency too. I quickly fell in love with the role. Each day was different – I was supporting clients with a wide range of conditions and disabilities, and I wanted to understand every one of them better. I would go home and research the conditions I’d encountered, learning how to tailor my support and care.
I still remember one client in particular – a gentleman living with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Visiting him in his home and seeing the profound impact of the condition on both him and his family left a lasting impression on me.
Not long after, I saw an advert that said: “Can you spare a few hours a week?”
I said yes.
That call led me to The Debenham Project – an incredible Suffolk-based initiative supporting the families and loved ones of people with dementia. Their volunteer team is committed to building a dementia-friendly village and raising awareness of what it means to live with dementia. I’ve proudly volunteered with them for many years.
Though my ambition to become a psychologist didn’t disappear, I also developed a love for travelling. The flexibility of agency work meant I could see the world and still return home and pick up shifts the next day.
In 2010, I interviewed for an assistant psychologist role – but I realised I wasn’t drawn to the clinical nature of the job. By then, I had seen first-hand how my skills could be used to make a real difference in health and social care. The demand for compassionate, person-centred support was only growing. I knew this was where I belonged.
Four years later, after working as a domiciliary care manager, I moved into healthcare recruitment – a role that allows me to influence the quality of care being delivered by placing the right people in the right roles. That’s something I feel incredibly proud of.
Now, as part of Ocala Healthcare, I’m more excited than ever about the future. We’re building something special – and we believe there are no limits to what we can achieve.
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We’d love to hear how we’ve made a difference in your life at home.
