Denise Heaney, 61, lives in Redditch, Worcestershire, with her husband Jim. They have a grown-up son and daughter. Denise has been a Side by Side volunteer since October 2016, when she was paired with Pat Hill, 78.
“When I retired, I wanted to do something meaningful with my time. My grandfather had dementia and I’ve seen how isolating it can be.
My daughter, an admiral nurse, told me about the Side by Side scheme, and it seemed like a great fit for me.
I met with Janet, an Alzheimer’s Society coordinator, in a local café. She explained the scheme, the requirements, and the reading and training I’d need to do.
Janet took me to Pat’s house for our first meeting. Initially, she seemed a bit shy and, understandably, unsure, but…
