Memory Clinics & Alzheimer's Research Centers in Milwaukee

Milwaukee families looking for memory clinics and Alzheimer's research centers can start with the National Institute on Aging's public directory of research centers, then call local hospitals to ask about evaluation and discharge planning, and contact the Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter for education and support. This page lists only verified local contacts and national locators. It does not diagnose memory loss or recommend a specific medical treatment.

Listing a hospital, research program, or association here is for local orientation only. It does not mean that organization endorses this website or any in-home care provider. For a citywide overview of aging resources, see the Milwaukee care guide.

Older adults in Milwaukee who may need a memory evaluation

Milwaukee is home to 66,964 residents age 65 and older and 7,748 residents age 85 and older. U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates

Census estimates also show 25,002 Milwaukee seniors living alone and a city median household income of $51,888. U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates

Those figures describe the city's older population. They are not a count of people living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and this page does not estimate local prevalence. If memory changes are affecting daily life, families often start with a primary care clinician and then ask about a specialty memory evaluation.

NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers

The National Institute on Aging funds Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers across the United States that conduct Alzheimer's disease research and may offer specialized evaluation or clinical studies. NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers

This directory does not list a Milwaukee street address for an NIA-designated center. Milwaukee families can use NIA's public finder to locate participating centers, then ask a local clinician whether a referral is appropriate and whether travel or telehealth is offered. Find an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

An NIA research center is not the same thing as a community memory clinic or a hospital geriatric unit. If a center is far from Milwaukee, families can still use the locator to learn what services exist regionally and what a first research visit may require.

Hospitals in Milwaukee to contact about memory evaluation

Milwaukee families can contact the city's CMS-listed hospitals to ask whether memory evaluation, geriatric consultation, or dementia-informed discharge planning is available, because CMS does not publish whether any hospital has a dedicated memory or geriatric unit.

Confirm hours, referral rules, and whether a neurologist, geriatrician, or memory clinic appointment is offered before you travel. After a hospital stay, specialized hospital discharge care can help a person with memory loss return home more safely.

Adult acute care hospitals

• Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital, 5000 W Chambers St, Milwaukee, WI 53210, phone (414) 447-2130. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit church ownership, emergency services, CMS overall rating 5 out of 5.
• Aurora St Lukes Medical Center, 2900 W Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215, phone (414) 649-6000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit private ownership, emergency services, CMS overall rating 4 out of 5.
• Ascension Columbia St Marys Hospital Milwaukee, 2323 N Lake Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53211, phone (414) 585-1374. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit church ownership, emergency services, CMS overall rating 3 out of 5.
• Ascension St Francis Hospital, 3237 S 16th St, Milwaukee, WI 53215, phone (414) 647-5000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit private ownership, emergency services, CMS overall rating 3 out of 5.
• Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, 9200 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, phone (414) 805-3000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit private ownership, emergency services, CMS overall rating 3 out of 5.
• Milwaukee VA Medical Center, 5000 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53295, phone (414) 384-2000. Acute care Veterans Administration hospital, veterans health administration ownership, emergency services, CMS overall rating 3 out of 5. Eligibility and referral rules for veterans differ from civilian hospitals, so ask the VA directly.

Other CMS-listed hospitals in Milwaukee

• Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin, 9000 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, phone (414) 266-3954. Children's hospital, voluntary non-profit other ownership, emergency services. CMS has not assigned an overall star rating. Families seeking an adult memory evaluation would typically contact an adult acute care hospital instead.
• Mental Health Emergency Center, Inc, 1525 N 12th St, Milwaukee, WI 53205, phone (414) 966-3030. Psychiatric hospital, voluntary non-profit private ownership. CMS has not assigned an overall star rating. Ask this facility directly what services it offers; it is not listed here as a memory clinic.

Ask each hospital whether it has a dedicated memory unit, how referrals work, and what discharge planning looks like for a patient with dementia. CMS Hospital General Information used for the listings above does not answer those questions.

What a first memory clinic visit typically involves

A first memory clinic visit typically includes a detailed medical and daily-function history, a review of medications, and cognitive screening, often with a family member or other informant in the room.

This is general orientation, not medical advice and not a description of any one Milwaukee clinic's protocol. Families often prepare by bringing:

• A current medication list, including over-the-counter products and supplements
• Prior imaging reports, lab results, and specialist notes if you already have them
• Eyeglasses, hearing aids, and a snack or water if the visit may run long
• Notes on when memory or thinking changes began, and how they affect cooking, driving, bills, or safety
• A trusted companion who can describe day-to-day function without speaking over the person being evaluated

The clinician may order additional tests, discuss possible next steps, or refer to another specialist. Only the treating clinician can interpret results. If the person already needs help at home while you wait for appointments, companion care can provide check-ins and social support, and personal care can help with bathing, dressing, and other daily tasks.

Family support and in-home memory care in Milwaukee

The Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter offers free support groups, care consultations, education programs, and a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 for families across Wisconsin. Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter

No street address is listed here for that chapter. Call the helpline to ask about Milwaukee-area groups, care consultations, and education programs. The Association can help families understand Alzheimer's disease and caregiving options. It is not a substitute for a medical evaluation.

After an evaluation, many Milwaukee families look for care at home rather than an immediate move. Options can include memory care at home, respite care so primary caregivers can rest, and 24-hour live-in care when someone cannot be left alone safely. Match the schedule to the person's needs after you talk with the clinical team, not before.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

This page does not list a Milwaukee street address for an NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Use the National Institute on Aging finder to locate participating centers and ask a Milwaukee clinician whether a referral, telehealth visit, or regional appointment is available.

Which Milwaukee hospitals should we call about a memory evaluation?

Start with the adult acute care hospitals listed above, including Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital, Aurora St Lukes Medical Center, Ascension Columbia St Marys Hospital Milwaukee, Ascension St Francis Hospital, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, and, for eligible veterans, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. Ask each hospital directly whether it offers memory evaluation or a geriatric referral. CMS does not publish whether any of these hospitals has a dedicated memory unit.

What should we bring to a first memory appointment?

Bring a medication list, insurance information, prior test results if you have them, and a companion who knows how the person manages daily tasks. Write down specific examples of memory or thinking changes. Do not stop prescribed medicines on your own before the visit.

Does Medicare Care Compare say which Milwaukee hospitals have a memory clinic?

No. The hospital entries on this page come from CMS hospital general information, which covers name, address, type, ownership, emergency services, and overall star rating. It does not say whether a hospital has a memory, dementia, or geriatric unit. Call the hospital to confirm.

How can the Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter help Milwaukee families?

The chapter provides free support groups, care consultations, education programs, and a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 for families across Wisconsin, including Milwaukee. It does not replace a physician's evaluation or a hospital appointment.

How many older adults live in Milwaukee, and does that tell us how many have Alzheimer's disease?

Milwaukee has 66,964 residents age 65 and older, including 7,748 age 85 and older, and 25,002 seniors living alone, based on U.S. Census Bureau ACS estimates. Those numbers describe age and living arrangements only. This page does not publish a city count of people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia.

What home support is available in Milwaukee while we wait for a specialty appointment?

Home support can include companion visits, help with personal care, respite for family caregivers, memory care at home, and 24-hour live-in care when overnight supervision is needed. Use the Milwaukee care guide to compare options, and ask the clinical team which tasks are most important for safety at home.