Talk with many seasoned physicians and they will probably admit the training they received on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in medical school was fairly thin. What they’ve learned about the disease and how to communicate with patients who have Alzheimer’s has largely been from on-the-job training. It’s why we thought our health care colleagues in Connecticut would be interested in learning more about buddy programs.
How Alzheimer’s Buddy Programs with Medical Students Work
Buddy programs pair medical students with a person living with Alzheimer’s disease. Buddies are matched according to common interests and hobbies. The pair spends at least four hours a month together. The goal of these programs is to help future physicians become sensitive to the impact Alzheimer’s has on the person and their entire family, and to become advocates for those living with the disease. Buddies also have the opportunity to see firsthand how their aging friend reacts and adjusts to the physical, emotional, and mental changes this condition creates.
Buddies also benefit from these programs. In addition to gaining a new friend, the program also makes them feel as if they are making a contribution to improving the quality of life and care for future Alzheimer’s patients. Families are often involved in getting to know the medical student who is paired with their senior loved one.
The Buddy Program at Northwestern University
One of the longest standing buddy programs is at Northwestern University. Their award-winning The Buddy Program was launched in 1998. The success of their program is supported by the numbers. 75% of buddies go on to become doctors in fields where they will work with Alzheimer’s patients.
This video from ABC News shares a personal look at the program through the eyes of two buddies in Chicago.
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Author: Ann Jamison
Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.
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