COMMUNITY STARS Zoe West nominated as best carer

A CARER who brought a smile to Trudy Short’s face every day for a year has been nominated as Best Carer in the Herald and Gazette’s Community Stars Awards.

Trudy’s husband Donald nominated carer Zoe West, describing her as “full of the joys of spring”.

Donald, who lives with his wife in Titch Hill, north of Sompting, said: “My wife had a fall 18 months ago and needed an eight-week stay in hospital. When she came home, she needed a carer and we were sent Zoe – she was marvellous.”

Zoe works for Light-house Care, in Sompting, and visited Trudy, 86, every day for a year until she had improved.

Donald, 76, added: “Nothing was too much trouble for Zoe, she is a credit to herself and her employer.

“She made my wife feel at ease and helped us get the best start to each day.”

Zoe, 23, who was expecting a baby when she was told about her nomination, said: “I am so surprised, it’s a really lovely thing.

“I cared for Trudy for a year so I got to her and Donald very well, they’re a lovely couple.”

Zoe, of Peveril Drive, Sompting, added: “I don’t think carers get enough recognition, and many people don’t know what we go through.

“I really enjoy my job because you never know what you are walking into.

“Every client is different, and you learn more about them the more you help them.

“I wouldn’t give my job up for the world.”

Zoe hopes to have her own care home one day.

Voting begins using forms published in the Thursday, October 14 editions of the Herald and Gazette series.

All nominees are invited to attend the awards ceremony at Worthing Assembly Hall in Stoke Abbott Road, on Sunday, November 14.