Combining compassion, communication and creativity, members of the College of William and Mary’s Alzheimer’s Buddies Club volunteer with residential facilities throughout Williamsburg. The club’s goal is to improve the social cognition of residents by inviting them to play games, read, craft or make music with volunteers.
A chapter of the larger national organization, the College’s Alzheimer’s Buddies Club is relatively new. Five executive board members who realized they shared a passion for helping their communities decided to start the club together in spring 2024. After spending that spring semester planning, going through the process of becoming a Recognized Student Organization at the College, getting affiliated with the national organization and forming partnerships with local memory care facilities, the group was able to begin volunteering in fall 2024. The club has grown exponentially since it began.
“20 to 30 people signed up spring semester,” Vice President Emily Garloff ’27 said. “Then we had around 60 to 70 last semester, and then we have almost 100 this semester.”
With such a large group of members, the club is able to offer a wide range of activities to residents. Katarina Love ’27 finds joy in chatting with the residents while she volunteers.
“I love yapping with the old ladies there,” Love said. “Once you hit a conversation gold mine, they kind of just go off. We talk about religion, we talk about our childhoods, we were talking about traveling the other day. It’s nice. I like to let them dictate the conversation and just see whatever they want to talk about. I think it’s just important to listen and follow through with it.”
Lu Caudle ’27 has found a different way to connect with residents: through their music.
“We do conversations, performances, sing-alongs, activities, things to engage with the patients or the listeners and to hopefully liven up their day, put a little bit of energy and a little bit of love in their day,” Caudle said.
Within each shift, there’s a requirement of adaptability. Whether it be games, conversations or music, volunteers must be ready to pivot their activities to better cater to the wants and needs of the residents in the moment. Secretary Rehoboth Mesfin ’27 makes sure to highlight this core part of the job during training, especially for musical performances.
“I always tell my volunteers never to practice before coming in, and to play when they get there, because it makes it more interactive for the residents, and they can collaborate,” Mesfin said.
Caudle takes this advice to heart, constantly evaluating the energy in the room while playing. They consider whether the song should continue, change, or if a volume adjustment is needed, as well as the residents’ familiarity with the tune and the enthusiasm they bring to each song.
“Maybe people know the words of the first verse,” Caudle said. “So we’ll just do the first verse again. It really is about feeling the energy of the room and engaging people in any way possible. So, if I have to sing the first verse of ‘Amazing Grace’ eight times, I will do it.”
This level of adaptability can be challenging, especially with residents in an environment that can sometimes be unpredictable.
“It’s hard because they can’t talk and express how they’re feeling, but you can tell and you can see how visibly upset they are, and it hurts to see, and there’s nothing much you can do in that moment besides just be like, ‘Hey, I’m still here. I’m still listening to you,’ and just kind of sit with them through that moment,” Love said.
Despite the challenges, club members find their participation incredibly rewarding. By showing up regularly, they’re able to form meaningful connections with residents.
“There was a moment when a patient that is typically very quiet, very reserved, sort of began to hum along,” Caudle said. “That was really special, and I couldn’t stop and reflect on it. I had to keep playing because I was in the middle of the song, but she sort of looked at me, and I felt like we connected in that moment, and that was really cool. I didn’t know I had the power to do that in any way. But, you know, music is medicine.”
Not only are club members incredibly adaptable in the moment, they are constantly working to improve what they offer to deepen connections and provide more options to residents. At meetings, the executive board creates space for meaningful reflection and opportunities to provide feedback for what the club might improve upon in the future.
“I would be so thrilled if we could go outside together, and I guess have a kind of a sensory-focused day,” Love said. “I think it’d be really fun to do a nature scavenger hunt. Let’s look for flowers that are beautiful, find your favorite rock. These are simple things that they do that form pathways between our brain and our body and the world around us.”
While Love focuses on initiatives she can introduce within the facility she works with, Garloff is hoping to build collaborations with other clubs at the College, and club President Ananya Gomatam ’27 has her sights set on a large event that will offer opportunities for the public to educate themselves about neurodegenerative diseases.
“Not many people know about the early onset signs, and a lot of people can’t get the care that they need,” Gomatam said.
Alzheimer’s Buddies at the College has positively influenced its members beyond what they initially expected.
“People talk about a lot of the highlights about their experiences, but each day is so different,” Garloff said. “You honestly get such a unique experience, and each volunteer, they have such a unique perspective that they bring. The ways we connect with volunteers is really special, and anyone you talk to in the club will talk about how rewarding it is and how much it’s helped them process their own stuff.”
The club has also strengthened members’ relationships outside of their own campus community.
“It’s a really, really good way to also feel connected to the Williamsburg community at large,” Love said. “I think students on this campus, we get a little bit isolated. We’re very much in our bubble at William and Mary, and that’s great, because it’s a beautiful, happy bubble. But it’s important, I think, as a college, to also look around at the community around us and think, you guys do so much for us. What can we do for you?”
Alzheimer’s Buddies club is always willing to take on more excited volunteers. If you missed them at the club fair, check out their TribeLink or Instagram (@wmalzbuddies) to get involved.