Dementia Caregiver Support Groups in New York

Caring for a relative or friend with dementia is demanding work, and many families look for a regular place to talk with people who understand the day-to-day reality. This page lists verified New York caregiver support and helpline information, starting with the Alzheimer's Association New York City Chapter, and explains what a support group typically offers. It does not diagnose any condition, recommend treatment, or speak on behalf of any hospital, clinic, or agency named below.

What a Support Group Actually Offers

A dementia caregiver support group is a scheduled gathering—often weekly or monthly, in person or online—where family and friend caregivers can talk with others in a similar role. A facilitator usually keeps the conversation moving so that more than one person has time to speak. Groups are built around shared experience, not around a medical exam.

In a typical meeting you can expect:

• Peer conversation. Other caregivers describe what is happening at home and what they have already tried.
• Practical problem-solving. People often exchange ideas about communication, daily routines, safety, and how to ask for help.
• Information about community options. Facilitators or members may mention education programs, respite, or other local services. You should confirm details directly with any program you contact.
• Emotional support. A regular group can reduce isolation. Grief, fatigue, and frustration are common topics, and you do not have to explain the illness from the beginning each time.
• Continuity. Returning to the same group helps others follow your situation over weeks or months.

A support group is not a substitute for clinical care. It does not provide a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or emergency response. Attendance does not enroll you in a hospital program or a research study. If you need medical decisions, talk with a licensed clinician. If someone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.

Groups differ. Before you join, ask whether meetings are virtual or in person, which language is used, whether the group is meant for spouses, adult children, or another role, and whether you need a brief intake call. You can try more than one group.

Alzheimer's Association New York City Chapter

The Alzheimer's Association New York City Chapter is the local chapter listing for caregiver support in the five boroughs. Its publicly posted services include free support groups, care consultations, and a 24/7 helpline serving all five boroughs.

24/7 helpline: 800-272-3900

Call that number to ask about current support group options, meeting format, and whether a group fits your situation. Staff or volunteers on a helpline can usually help you sort among groups; they cannot give medical treatment advice, and a call is not a clinical appointment.

More information is on the Alzheimer's Association New York City Chapter website. This page repeats the chapter's publicly listed services so caregivers can find them in one place. It is not a statement that the Association endorses this page or any other organization listed here.

Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers in New York City

New York City also has several National Institute on Aging (NIA)–designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. These centers focus on Alzheimer's disease research and related clinical work. They are listed here as local Alzheimer's resources that families sometimes contact, not as caregiver support groups. Naming them is not an endorsement of this page, and this page does not speak for the centers or their staff.

A national listing of these centers is maintained by the National Institute on Aging. Confirm hours and the right contact person with each center before you visit.

Columbia University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Phone: 212-305-2447
Address: 622 West 168th St, Ph 18, Suite 400, New York, NY 10032

NYU Alzheimer's Disease Center

NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at NYU's Center for Cognitive Neurology.

Phone: 212-263-3257
Address: 145 East 32nd Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10016

Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Phone: 212-241-8329
Address: One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY 10029

Directories for Legal and Care-Management Help

Some caregivers also need help with legal planning or with coordinating care. Rather than naming individual firms or managers that have not been personally vetted here, use these searchable national directories and confirm credentials yourself.

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Directory — a searchable national directory of elder law attorneys.
• Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) Directory — a searchable national directory of professional geriatric and aging life care managers.

A directory listing is a starting point for your own research. It is not a referral and not an endorsement of any attorney or care manager you may find there.

How to Get Started

If you want a support group or after-hours information in New York City, begin with the Alzheimer's Association New York City Chapter helpline at 800-272-3900. That line is listed as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the chapter's posted services include free support groups and care consultations for all five boroughs.

Have a few details ready when you call: the borough where you live or provide care, whether you prefer an online or in-person meeting, and whether you are a spouse, adult child, or another kind of caregiver. Ask how to join, whether the group is drop-in, and what privacy practices the group follows.

If your questions are about research-center programs, use the center phone numbers above and ask for the appropriate office. If you need an elder law attorney or a professional care manager, start with the NAELA or ALCA directory and interview more than one person.

Verify meeting times, locations, and eligibility directly with each organization. Listings change, and only the organization itself can confirm what is open this week.