NORTH SIDE MEMORIES PROGRAM
A Collaboration with the Wesley House in st. Louis
Are you taking care of an older adult at home? Have they had changes in their memory or thinking as they've grown older?
Alzheimer’s Buddies is expanding in collaboration with the Wesley House Association to bring the North Side Memories Program to North St. Louis, launching September 2021.
About the program
The North Side Memories Program will allow your loved one to meet weekly with a trained college student on Saturday mornings at the Wesley House, under supervision by the Wesley House staff. This free community program is designed to give you, the caretaker, respite care while also providing your loved one with invaluable social interactions and experiences. Here, your loved one will be able to build meaningful relationships with their student Buddies in the program.
For caretakers, we are teaming up with an amazing non-profit that supports caregivers across the country, HFC, to offer a community support group where participants will be able to talk with experts and peers from the community who are coping with similar care challenges. This group is open to all caregivers regardless of whether your loved one joins the North Side Memories Program.
Call the wesley house at 314-385-1000 Or fill the form below to express your interest & find out more about the prograM
The Wesley House Association is located at 4507 E Lee Ave, St. Louis, MO 63115Key St. Louis Caregiver Resources
24/7 caregiver help hotline run by the Alzheimer’s Association: call 800-272-3900
24/7 community/caregiver help hotline run by the United Way: call 211
Local services provided by the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging
PILOT PROGRAM
a community-based, intergenerational, longitudinal care model
The Wesley House Association is a community-based non profit organization that has served the North St. Louis community for over 100 years. Their mission is to serve as advocates and provide a safe place for community members. The Wesley House is one of the longest standing social services agencies in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Currently, the Wesley House has an Older Adult Virtual Connectivity Program, which is designed to reduce instances of social isolation and loneliness, while also addressing the mental and physical health-related issues that older adults encounter. Our program would be an addition to their established supportive network serving the community.
John Saunders, Jr., Executive Director at Wesley House and a collaborator on this project, recently spoke at our virtual symposium on the racial disparities in dementia.
The NAB St. Louis pilot chapter will pair students from Washington University to meet 1-on-1 with seniors at Wesley House. This community-based model will be used as a template for launching similar initiatives through our other Alzheimer’s Buddies chapters.
OUR VISION
For families, caring for their loved ones in the community, the program will provide a much needed break from caregiving.
For volunteers, this will be an incredible opportunity to stretch themselves to connect with someone who grew up in a different time and in a different context, to connect with someone who now may be grappling with dementia and could use a friend on their journey.
Meet Our St. Louis CHapter directors
ANIKA CHATTERJEE
Anika Chatterjee is a rising sophomore at Washington University and is planning on majoring in Economics and International Development with a minor in Children's Studies. She strongly believe in the power of civic engagement and, more specifically, the importance of human connection in initiating sustainable change.
ALEN CHEN
Alan is a rising Junior at WashU, dual-majoring in Neuroscience and Healthcare Management on a pre-med track intending to graduate early in the winter of 2022, and is one of our directors for the Alz Buddies STL program.
EMMA MCMILLAN
Emma McMillian is a computer science and mathematics student at Washington University in St. Louis. Emma enjoys hiking, cooking, and tutoring. She loves to encourage the people around her to work hard and help the community. At school Emma researches machine learning algorithms and plans to have a career in aerospace after graduation.