Memory Clinics & Alzheimer's Research Centers in Buffalo

This directory explains how families in Buffalo can locate NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers through national listings, which local hospitals to call about a memory evaluation, and what a first visit typically involves. It is an orientation guide only. It is not medical advice, and naming a clinic, hospital, or agency does not mean that organization endorses our services.

How Buffalo families start a memory evaluation

Buffalo families usually begin a memory evaluation with a primary care clinician, then add a local hospital, the Alzheimer's Association Western New York Chapter, or an NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center found through the national NIA directory. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, so many families start by asking how to get a thorough workup rather than guessing at a cause. The CDC overview of Alzheimer's disease and dementia is a plain-language starting point for that distinction.

Buffalo has 38,212 residents age 65 and older, including 4,076 residents age 85 and older, and 15,765 seniors living alone. The city's median household income is $48,050. Those city figures come from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates and describe the older adult population, not a count of people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Statewide context can still help families plan. New York ranks second among states for Alzheimer's prevalence, with related costs estimated at $189 billion in 2024. That is a New York State finding, not a Buffalo headcount.

NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers

NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers are federally funded academic centers that research Alzheimer's disease, evaluate people with memory concerns, and may offer clinical studies. They are listed nationally by the National Institute on Aging rather than as a single Buffalo storefront in the local resource list on this page.

Families serving Buffalo should use the public NIA directories to confirm the nearest designated center, whether a referral is required, and whether visits are in person. Start with the NIA tool to find an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, the NIA list of NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers, and the Alzheimer's.gov page on national research centers. Call the center you find before traveling so you know what records to send and who should attend.

Buffalo hospitals to ask about memory evaluation

Buffalo has several CMS-listed hospitals that families can call to ask about memory evaluation, geriatric services, and discharge planning, but CMS does not publish whether any of them operates a dedicated memory, dementia, or geriatric unit. Confirm those services directly with each hospital. The details below are what CMS does publish: name, address, phone, hospital type, ownership, emergency services, and overall star rating when one is assigned.

• Upstate New York VA Healthcare System (Western NY VA Healthcare System), 3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215. Phone (716) 862-3611. Acute care, Veterans Administration ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 5 out of 5.
• Kaleida Health, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14210. Phone (716) 859-8620. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 3 out of 5.
• Sisters of Charity Hospital, 2157 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214. Phone (716) 862-1000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 3 out of 5.
• Erie County Medical Center, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215. Phone (716) 898-3936. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 2 out of 5.
• Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, 565 Abbott Road, Buffalo, NY 14220. Phone (716) 826-7000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit - private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 2 out of 5.
• Brylin Hosp, 1263 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209. Phone (716) 886-8200. Psychiatric hospital, proprietary ownership. CMS has not assigned an overall star rating.
• Buffalo Psychiatric Center, 400 Forest Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213. Phone (716) 885-2261. Psychiatric hospital, government - state ownership. CMS has not assigned an overall star rating.

If a hospital stay is already underway, ask the care team how they plan the trip home for a patient with memory loss, who will teach the family the new routine, and whether extra help is needed at the door. Hospital discharge care can fill that gap when a relative cannot be left alone after an inpatient stay.

Alzheimer's Association Western New York Chapter

The Alzheimer's Association Western New York Chapter offers free support groups, care consultations, education programs, and a 24/7 helpline serving Buffalo and Western New York. Call 800-272-3900. The Western New York Chapter site is the local Association listing for those programs. The chapter can help families prepare questions for a first clinic visit and find caregiver support, but it is not a substitute for a clinical evaluation.

What a first memory-clinic visit typically involves

A first memory-clinic visit typically includes history-taking, questions about daily function, a brief cognitive screening, a medication review, and a plan for any follow-up tests a clinician may order. Only a qualified clinician can interpret results or make a diagnosis, and nothing on this page is a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Families often bring a current medication list, glasses or hearing aids, prior test results if they have them, and a relative or friend who can describe day-to-day changes. Expect questions about sleep, mood, driving, managing money, and whether the person can be left safely alone. The visit may end with a request for lab work, imaging, or a return appointment rather than an immediate label. Ask how and when results will be shared, and write down the next step before you leave.

In-home support in Buffalo during and after an evaluation

In-home support in Buffalo can help a person with memory changes stay safer at home while the family pursues a clinic evaluation and after a hospital stay. That matters in a city where thousands of older adults live alone and where household budgets may be tight relative to private-pay care.

Memory care at home focuses on familiar routines, supervision, and a calmer environment. Companion care can add daytime presence for someone who should not be isolated. Personal care helps with bathing, dressing, and other daily tasks if those have become hard to complete. Respite care gives family caregivers a scheduled break, and 24-hour live-in care is an option when overnight supervision is the main gap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Buffalo?

Use the National Institute on Aging directories to find designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers and confirm the nearest location, referral rules, and visit format. This page does not invent a Buffalo center that is not in the local resource list. While you check the national listings, you can still call a Buffalo hospital about an evaluation pathway and the Alzheimer's Association Western New York Chapter at 800-272-3900 for education and support.

Which Buffalo hospital has a memory clinic?

CMS Hospital General Information publishes each hospital's name, address, type, ownership, emergency services, and overall star rating when one exists. It does not say whether a hospital has a dedicated memory, dementia, or geriatric unit. Call the hospital you are considering and ask that question directly, along with how discharge planning works for a patient with dementia.

What happens at a first memory clinic appointment?

A first visit typically covers medical and family history, changes in thinking and daily tasks, a brief cognitive screening, and a review of medications. The clinician may order further tests later. Bring a medication list, prior records if you have them, and someone who sees the person day to day. This is general orientation, not a diagnosis.

How do I contact the Alzheimer's Association in Buffalo?

Call the Alzheimer's Association Western New York Chapter at 800-272-3900. The chapter serves Buffalo and Western New York with a 24/7 helpline, free support groups, care consultations, and education programs. It does not replace a medical evaluation.

How many older adults live in Buffalo?

Census ACS 5-year estimates for the city of Buffalo count 38,212 residents age 65 and older, 4,076 residents age 85 and older, and 15,765 seniors living alone. Median household income in Buffalo is $48,050. Those figures describe the local older population. They are not a count of people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Can someone with Alzheimer's stay at home in Buffalo while waiting for a clinic visit?

Many families continue care at home during the wait for an evaluation, especially when a relative already lives in a familiar house. Home help can include supervision, personal care, companion presence, respite for family caregivers, or around-the-clock support if nights are unsafe. A clinician still needs to complete the medical workup. Home care is support, not a diagnosis or a substitute for hospital or research-center care.