UChicago Memory Center — Free Dementia Caregiver Support in Chicago, IL
The Memory Center at the University of Chicago Medicine offers free Support & Quality of Life Programs for family caregivers of people living with dementia. As an academic medical center program, the Memory Center pairs peer support groups with educational programming, research opportunities, and the clinical depth of one of the country’s leading academic medical centers. Programs serve South Side Chicago and the surrounding region.
What to Expect
The Memory Center hosts free caregiver support groups, dementia-friendly social programs, and educational workshops throughout the year. Support groups meet by video and in person at the Memory Center’s campus on Chicago’s South Side. Sessions are facilitated by trained social workers and clinicians with deep experience in dementia care. The format is confidential and peer-driven: members share what’s happening at home, listen to others, and trade strategies. Topics span the caregiving journey — early-stage planning, communication strategies, behavioral changes, end-of-life care, and grief.
Who This Group Is For
The groups are open to caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in the Chicago region. Caregivers do not need to be Memory Center patients to attend. The South Side location makes the program particularly accessible for families on Chicago’s South Side and in the surrounding suburbs. The Memory Center also serves a broader Chicagoland community through its virtual programming.
Why Peer Support Works
Dementia caregivers in Chicago often navigate a particular set of pressures — long commutes, multigenerational households, and an academic-medical-care landscape that can be overwhelming to navigate. The University of Chicago Memory Center’s combination of peer support, education, and clinical connection gives caregivers a single trusted home base. Sitting with other caregivers who understand the work — and having access to physicians and researchers who specialize in dementia — is a rare combination.
How to Join
All Support & Quality of Life Programs are free. Visit thememorycenter.uchicago.edu/support for the current calendar and registration details, or call the Memory Center at (773) 702-6222. Staff can connect caregivers to support groups, educational programs, and additional clinical and research opportunities at the University of Chicago.