StudentsCare Information

A game of LEGO at a hospital bedside. A karaoke song in a senior living community. StudentsCare is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects undergraduate healthcare students nationwide with hospitalized children, isolated older adults, and their families for fun, friendship, and support. Through regular visits, students turn a first hello into a lasting friendship. Our Hospital Buddy Program brings student volunteers to the bedside to share play, comfort, and a sense of normal with children in the hospital, giving families a short break and staff more time for clinical care. Our Senior Buddy Program, launched in April 2020, pairs students with older adults in senior living communities for in-person conversation, music, crafts, and celebrations. As of October 2026, StudentsCare has recorded 38,621 meaningful interactions with hospitalized children and older adults, 27,659 volunteer hours, and 1,301 activity and comfort kits, powered by 1,023 student volunteers. Today, 15 university chapters in 7 states support 31 active partner sites: 16 Hospital Buddy sites and 15 Senior Buddy sites. Our vision is a world where healthcare providers lead with empathy and kindness, and every hospitalized child and isolated older adult receives compassionate care. Get involved: https://www.students-care.org/get-involved Donate: https://students-care.org/donate