Written by Vikram Simhambhatla, BS Candidate, WashU
While stumbling around WashU’s Activities Fair during my sophomore year, I found a booth with “WashU Alz Buddies” laden across a regular 8.5” x 11” piece of printer paper in the middle of our athletic complex. I scanned the little QR code hidden in the bottom corner and joined a seemingly small group chat with volunteers passionate about providing companionship to seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Although I didn’t know what to expect at first, what began as a leap of faith turned into one of the most transformative experiences of my college life, profoundly reshaping my understanding of memory, empathy, and the power of human connection.
My time with WashU’s Alz Buddies chapter has been one of the most rewarding experiences during my time at WashU. We are a student-run group dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Each week, we visit Laclede Groves, a local senior living facility in Webster Groves, to spend time with residents who face memory challenges. The moments I’ve shared with them have been incredibly heartwarming and humbling.
Our mission with WashU Alz Buddies is simple: create meaningful connections that transcend memory loss. We aim to provide companionship to patients whose memories may be fleeting yet whose need for interaction and engagement remains steadfast. The mere investment of time, from lively conversations to activities such as bingo, card games, playing music, and painting, helps to bridge the gap between their past and present. I’ve found it remarkable how even the smallest flash of recognition, the faintest smile, or a few seconds of shared laughter can make all the difference.
One of my favorite parts of volunteering over the past several years has been getting to know my buddy Charles. Charles was born and raised in St. Louis, even attending WashU himself where he studied industrial engineering. He worked for Granite City Steel before embarking on a long career that would eventually take him to the Navy. Despite the difficulties he now faces with late-stage Alzheimer’s, Charles has shared numerous glimpses of his fascinating life with me.
When I first met Charles, he was quiet, often struggling to follow along with conversations, and incessant that I was surely married with kids at my apparent age of 45 (I was 20 at the time). But once we started talking about his time as a wrestler and tennis player in high school, his experiences studying at a WashU very different from the one I know, and his dream of visiting my hometown of Newport Beach in California, something shifted. I joked with him that one day we’d take a road trip in the beautiful red Cadillac convertible that painted the calendar above his nightstand reading “August 2023” to the wonderful beaches that line the Pacific Ocean. Seeing him light up imagining a future of discovery rather than apologize for his waning memory of the past brought a sense of fulfillment I hadn’t expected.
While Alzheimer’s is cruel and unforgiving in the way it can erase life’s stories, it’s encouraging to know that, even in small doses, we can help bring those stories back to life. While the details are not always crystal clear in our conversations, Charles’s passion for life is undeniable. Every time I meet with him, even if it’s just for a few hours, it always feels like time hasn’t robbed him of his experiences. Sure, there are moments of disconnection when communication breaks down or when our buddies may forget our faces from week to week. Yet, the joys of witnessing promising moments of clarity and unabashed cheerfulness leave lasting imprints on both their lives and ours.
My time with Charles and other residents at Laclede Groves through WashU Alz Buddies has proven to me that there is power in presence. While Alzheimer’s and dementia may steal memories, they cannot steal the value of a gentle smile, a simple conversation, or the wind blowing through your hair on an imagined road trip. Engaging with WashU Alz Buddies allows us to go beyond volunteering—we become listeners, companions, and friends to those navigating their unique journey with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
For more information or to join WashU Alz Buddies, email Vikram at s.vikram@wustl.edu.