New Friends Program
Pairing students with people living with memory changes
Being a New Friends MENTOR
New Friends allows people who are living with memory impairment to share their life experiences, express their hopes regarding their health care, and to participate in the training of future health care providers and citizens.
New Friends brings together UW-Madison students and people living with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Mentors meet with their students once a month, in person in Madison between the months of October and April. Caregivers are welcome to attend student meetings alongside mentors, though their involvement is optional.
If you are interested in being a mentor, please submit the application here:
If you have questions about being a mentor, please contact Molly Schroeder, WAI Outreach Manager, at 608-262-6910 or by email.
Being a New Friends STUDENT or Mentee
New Friend student pairs meet with their mentor once a month, for approximately 2 hours, between October and April, to connect informally through in person chats and activities. New Friends helps students gain a personal perspective of life with memory loss and a closer look at the realities faced by family caregivers.
While this is a volunteer program, it is part of a research study and students are required to attend 2-hour monthly meetings. The purpose of the meeting is to learn about living with dementia, teach students how to be more dementia friendly, and to encourage students to share their reflections on what they experience during the program.
In 2026, the program will have two cohorts. One cohort will meet on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m.-noon. The other cohort will meet on Monday evenings from 7-9 p.m. Students, please review the schedule before applying.
More information about New Friends
This program is offered by the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Find more details on the program flyer (pdf).
Mentors and caregivers, if you have a question about the program, please email or call Molly Schroeder at 608-262-6910.
Students, if you have a question about the program, please email or call Sheryl Spensley at 608-265-4042.
