Hospitals and Memory Care Units Serving Chicago

Chicago families coordinating medical care for a relative with dementia can start with the city's major acute care hospitals, then confirm memory-related services and discharge plans directly with each facility. CMS star ratings on this page reflect overall hospital quality, not a dedicated dementia program. For a wider view of local options, see the Chicago dementia care hub.

What dementia is, and why hospital teams need to know

Dementia is a decline in memory, thinking, and the ability to handle everyday activities. The CDC describes these core effects on memory, thinking, and daily function.

A hospital unit is busy and unfamiliar, so families should tell the admitting team about memory loss, how the person communicates, and any safety concerns such as wandering. Ask who will coordinate discharge. This page lists local hospitals and support contacts. It does not diagnose conditions or recommend treatments.

Chicago hospitals that serve local families

Chicago families can call several CMS-listed acute care hospitals in the city, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, The University of Chicago Medical Center, and the other facilities named below. CMS publishes each hospital's address, phone number, ownership type, emergency-service status, and overall star rating. CMS does not publish whether a hospital has a dedicated memory or geriatric unit, so confirm that directly with the hospital and ask what discharge planning looks like for a patient with dementia.

Listing a hospital here means it is a real local facility families can contact. It does not mean the hospital endorses any home care provider.

• Northwestern Memorial Hospital
  251 E Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611
  Phone: (312) 926-2000
  Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit with private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5.
• Rush University Medical Center
  1653 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612
  Phone: (312) 942-5000
  Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit with private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 5 out of 5.
• Jesse Brown VA Medical Center - VA Chicago Healthcare System
  820 S Damen Street, Chicago, IL 60612
  Phone: (312) 569-8387
  Acute care hospital under Veterans Health Administration ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5.
• Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago
  2900 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60657
  Phone: (773) 665-3000
  Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit with church ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5.
• The University of Chicago Medical Center
  5841 South Maryland, Chicago, IL 60637
  Phone: (773) 702-9785
  Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit with private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5.
• University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics
  1740 West Taylor St Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60612
  Phone: (312) 996-3900
  Acute care hospital, government with state ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5.
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
  836 West Wellington Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
  Phone: (773) 975-1600
  Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit with private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 3 out of 5.
• Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center
  7435 W Talcott Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631
  Phone: (773) 774-8000
  Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit with church ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating: 3 out of 5.

When you call, ask whether the hospital has a dedicated memory unit, how staff support patients with dementia on regular floors, and who handles discharge planning.

NIA-designated Alzheimer's research centers

Families can locate NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers through National Institute on Aging directories and then ask a listed center about any hospital affiliation. The National Institute on Aging funds Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. NIA publishes an overview of its funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers.

Do not assume a specific Chicago hospital hosts a center unless the center's own listing says so. NIA's finder helps families search for Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers, then call the center about clinics, trials, and hospital connections.

Hospital discharge and care at home in Chicago

After a Chicago hospitalization, families often combine the hospital's discharge plan with home-based support so the person with dementia returns to a familiar setting. Start with hospital discharge care for the first days back home. If memory changes make unsupervised time unsafe, many families look at memory care at home. Caregivers who need a break can ask about respite care.

Medicare publishes information on coverage for home health services. Review Medicare's home health services page for official coverage rules, and ask the hospital case manager what, if anything, is being ordered.

Older adults in Illinois may also explore in-home community support through the state's Community Care Program. Learn more about the Illinois Community Care Program.

Chicago support while you work with hospitals

The Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter offers support services, care options, and education for families and caregivers across Illinois. Visit the Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter for local programs.

The chapter office is at 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Families can call 312-335-8700.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CMS say which Chicago hospitals have a memory care unit?

No. CMS publishes hospital names, addresses, ownership, emergency services, and overall star ratings for the Chicago facilities listed above. It does not publish whether any hospital has a dedicated memory or geriatric unit. Call the hospital and ask directly, including how it plans discharge for a patient with dementia.

Which listed Chicago hospitals have a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5?

Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Rush University Medical Center each have a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5. That figure is an overall hospital rating. It is not a rating of a dementia or memory program.

How do I find an NIA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center connected to a Chicago hospital?

Use the National Institute on Aging directories for Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers, then ask a listed center whether it is affiliated with a Chicago hospital. Center listings change, so rely on the NIA finder and the center itself rather than an assumption about any hospital on this page.

What should I ask a Chicago hospital before discharge if my relative has dementia?

Ask who the discharge planner is, what follow-up appointments are scheduled, whether home health has been ordered, and how the team documented memory or safety concerns. Then decide whether you need extra help at home through hospital discharge care, memory care at home, or respite care. Bring a current medication list and a short note about how the person usually communicates.

Where can Chicago families get Alzheimer's support besides the hospital?

The Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter, at 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, provides support services, care options, and education for families and caregivers across Illinois. The chapter phone number is 312-335-8700.

Can a veteran use Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago?

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center is a Veterans Health Administration acute care hospital at 820 S Damen Street, Chicago, IL 60612, with emergency services and a CMS overall rating of 4 out of 5. Ask the VA about enrollment and which services the person can use. As with every hospital on this list, CMS does not say whether it has a dedicated memory unit, so confirm that when you call (312) 569-8387.