Memory Clinics & Alzheimer's Research Centers in Baltimore

Baltimore families looking for a memory evaluation can use National Institute on Aging (NIA) directories to find Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers, then call local hospitals to ask about memory clinics, and connect with Maryland caregiver support.

This page is a local directory of real contacts. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or endorsement by any hospital, clinic, or agency named below.

Memory care needs in Baltimore

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Baltimore has 86,161 residents age 65 and older, 9,515 residents age 85 and older, and 34,122 seniors living alone, with a median household income of $59,623.

The CDC describes Alzheimer's disease as involving difficulties with memory and daily function.

Those city figures describe Baltimore's older population. They are not a count of people living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease in this city.

For a wider view of aging and care options here, start with our Baltimore city guide.

How to find NIA Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers

The National Institute on Aging funds Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers at major medical institutions across the United States. You can read NIA's overview of that national network on the NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers page.

NIA also maintains a public locator families can use to find an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Search the official NIA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center finder rather than assuming a local hospital automatically hosts a designated center.

CMS hospital listings for Baltimore do not identify NIA centers or dedicated memory units. After you check the NIA directory, call Baltimore hospitals and ask whether they operate a memory clinic, geriatric assessment program, or Alzheimer's research studies, and whether a physician referral is required.

Baltimore hospitals to contact about memory services

The hospitals below are CMS-listed acute care hospitals serving Baltimore, with the name, address, phone number, ownership type, and overall star rating that CMS publishes.

CMS does not publish whether any of these hospitals has a dedicated memory, dementia, or geriatric unit. Ask each hospital directly whether it offers a memory clinic and what discharge planning looks like for a patient with dementia.

• The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287
  Phone: (410) 955-9540
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5.

• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
  4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
  Phone: (410) 550-0123
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 3 out of 5.

• Greater Baltimore Medical Center
  6701 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204
  Phone: (443) 849-2000
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5.

• MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
  201 East University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218
  Phone: (410) 554-2227
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with other ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5.

• MedStar Harbor Hospital
  3001 South Hanover Street, Baltimore, MD 21225
  Phone: (410) 350-3201
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with private ownership. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5.

• MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
  5601 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21239
  Phone: (443) 444-3902
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with other ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 3 out of 5.

• Mercy Medical Center
  301 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
  Phone: (410) 332-9237
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with church ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 3 out of 5.

• Saint Agnes Hospital
  900 Caton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
  Phone: (410) 368-6000
  Acute care hospital, voluntary nonprofit with church ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 3 out of 5.

A CMS overall star rating is a general hospital quality score. It does not tell you whether the hospital has a memory clinic, a research center affiliation, or dementia-specific staffing.

What a first memory clinic visit typically involves

A first memory clinic visit is usually a scheduled evaluation, not an emergency visit, and it typically focuses on history, screening, and planning next steps.

Clinics set their own intake rules, so call ahead and ask what to bring. Families often prepare photo identification, insurance cards, a current medication list, relevant medical records, glasses or hearing aids, and notes about when memory or daily-function changes began.

The appointment itself often includes questions about medical history, a review of medicines, questions about memory and everyday tasks, a brief cognitive screening, and a physical or neurological exam. Staff may ask a family member or close friend to describe recent changes. Some clinics order lab work or imaging later. Some do not give a final impression on the first day.

This is general information, not medical advice. Ask the clinic how long to allow, whether a referral is required, and how results will be shared with the primary clinician.

Sudden confusion, a head injury, trouble speaking, or other emergency warning signs are different from a planned memory visit. Use emergency services when those situations arise, then follow up with the person's clinician.

Family support in Maryland

The Alzheimer's Association Maryland Chapter offers free support groups, care consultations, education programs, and a 24/7 helpline for families across Maryland.

Helpline: 800-272-3900. Ask about local support groups, educational sessions, and help preparing questions for a first clinic visit. The chapter is a family support resource. Listing it here does not mean the Association endorses any home care provider.

In-home help around clinic visits and hospital stays

Many Baltimore families combine a clinic evaluation with in-home help so the person can stay in familiar surroundings between appointments.

Memory care at home focuses on routines, safety, and supervision for someone living with memory loss. Companion care can provide a familiar person for visits, meals, and appointment days. Personal care can help with bathing, dressing, and other daily tasks if those have become harder.

If a hospital stay is part of the path to a diagnosis or a related illness, ask the hospital's discharge team what support will be in place at home. Hospital discharge care can help with the first days back home. Caregivers who need a break can look at respite care. When needs are around the clock, families sometimes consider 24-hour live-in care.

Named hospitals and the Alzheimer's Association Maryland Chapter do not endorse these services. Use clinic and hospital guidance for medical decisions, and use home care only as practical support around those plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find an NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center near Baltimore?

Use the official NIA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center finder, then call the center or a nearby academic hospital to ask about referrals, memory clinics, and research studies. CMS hospital profiles for Baltimore do not label NIA centers, so the NIA directory is the place to start.

Which Baltimore hospital has a dedicated memory or geriatric unit?

CMS does not publish whether any Baltimore hospital has a dedicated memory, dementia, or geriatric unit. Use the hospital list above as a call sheet. Ask each facility whether it offers a memory clinic, how to get a referral, and how it plans discharges for patients with dementia.

What should we bring to a first memory clinic visit?

Ask the scheduler for that clinic's checklist. Families commonly bring identification, insurance information, a medication list, key medical records, glasses or hearing aids, and a relative or friend who can describe changes in memory and daily function. Clinics vary, and some require a physician referral.

Where can Baltimore families get free Alzheimer's support?

The Alzheimer's Association Maryland Chapter provides free support groups, care consultations, education programs, and a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 for families across Maryland. It can help you prepare questions for a clinic visit. It does not replace a medical evaluation.

Does a high CMS star rating mean a hospital is the right memory clinic?

No. A CMS overall rating is a general hospital quality score. It does not confirm a memory clinic, an NIA research affiliation, or dementia-specific discharge planning. Confirm those programs with the hospital.

Can someone stay at home while waiting for a memory evaluation?

Many families do, especially when the person is still in a familiar routine. In-home memory care, companion care, and personal care can add supervision and help with daily tasks around clinic appointments. That is practical support, not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical care.

What should we ask if a hospital stay is involved?

Ask whether the hospital has dementia-capable discharge planning, who will explain medicines and follow-up appointments, and what support is expected at home. Hospital discharge care can help with the transition. If family caregivers need coverage so they can rest, ask about respite care as well.