Memory Clinics & Alzheimer's Research Centers, Philadelphia

Dementia, memory, thinking, and daily function

Dementia is a general term for impaired memory, thinking, and decision-making that interferes with everyday activities, not a single disease. See the CDC overview of dementia for that definition and common symptoms.

Philadelphia has 227,129 residents age 65 and older, 25,511 residents age 85 and older, and 80,889 seniors living alone, according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates.

When forgetfulness, confusion, or trouble with bills, cooking, medications, or getting dressed starts to change daily life, families often look for a formal memory evaluation. This page cannot tell you what is causing those changes.

How to find NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers

NIA-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers are academic centers funded by the National Institute on Aging to study Alzheimer's disease; families find them through NIA's public list and locator, not through hospital star ratings.

Review the NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers network overview, then use NIA's Find an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center tool to see current locations, contacts, and what each center offers. Alzheimer's.gov also describes national research centers.

This page does not assign a specific NIA center street address in Philadelphia. Designations and clinic hours change, so confirm the current list with NIA and then call the center about referrals, research studies, and whether a family member should attend.

Philadelphia hospitals to ask about a memory evaluation

Philadelphia families can call the acute-care hospitals below to ask about a memory evaluation, geriatric assessment, neurology referral, or dementia-related discharge planning.

The public hospital profiles used here list name, address, ownership, emergency services, and overall CMS star rating. They do not state whether a campus runs a dedicated memory or geriatric unit. Ask each hospital directly before you assume a memory clinic exists there.

• Hospital of Univ of Pennsylvania. 3400 SPRUCE ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104. Phone (215) 662-6289. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit, private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 5 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

• Philadelphia VA Medical Center. 3900 WOODLAND AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104. Phone (215) 823-5857. Acute care, Veterans Administration, veterans health administration ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 5 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

• Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. 51 NORTH 39TH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104. Phone (215) 662-8000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit, other ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 4 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

• Pennsylvania Hospital. 800 SPRUCE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19107. Phone (215) 829-3000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit, private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 4 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

• Temple University Hospital. 3401 NORTH BROAD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19140. Phone (215) 707-2000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit, private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 4 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

• Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital. 5501 OLD YORK ROAD, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19141. Phone (215) 456-6090. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit, other ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 3 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. 111 SOUTH 11TH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19107. Phone (215) 955-6000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit, private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 3 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

• Jefferson Health- Northeast. 10800 KNIGHTS ROAD, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19114. Phone (215) 612-4000. Acute care hospital, voluntary non-profit, private ownership, emergency services. CMS overall rating 2 out of 5. CMS hospital profile.

When you call, ask whether a physician referral is required, how long new cognitive evaluations are taking, and how discharge planners support a patient with memory loss. If someone is leaving the hospital, hospital discharge care can bridge the first days at home.

What a first memory clinic visit typically involves

A first memory clinic or cognitive-evaluation visit typically reviews medical history, everyday function, current medications, and brief thinking tests, and it often ends with a follow-up plan rather than a final conclusion that day.

Staff usually want a clear timeline of what changed and when. Expect questions about remembering appointments, managing money, cooking, driving, medications, mood, sleep, and getting dressed or bathing. A relative or close friend who sees ordinary days is often more useful than going alone.

Bring a full medication and supplement list, glasses and hearing aids, insurance information, prior lab or imaging reports if you have them, and a short written list of the most worrying changes. Clinics may later order additional tests. This page cannot say which tests, if any, a Philadelphia clinician will choose, and it is not a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Ask before you go whether the visit is with neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry, or a research center; whether a trainee will take part; and how results will be shared with the family. If the person being seen already needs help with meals, safety, or companionship, arrange that support separately rather than waiting on one appointment.

Alzheimer's Association support in Philadelphia

The Alzheimer's Association, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter offers free support groups, care consultations, education programs, and a helpline serving Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania.

Call 800-272-3900, or start with the Alzheimer's Association Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter site for local programs. The chapter listing used here does not include a street address, so use the phone line or the chapter site rather than showing up unannounced.

Care at home after a clinic visit or hospital stay

After a memory evaluation or hospital stay, many Philadelphia families add in-home help so cooking, medications, transportation, and supervision are not left to one exhausted caregiver.

Some households start with companion care for safety, meals, and daytime presence. Others need memory care at home when confusion, wandering, or sundowning makes routine personal care harder. Pair clinic follow-up with a realistic home plan instead of assuming one specialist visit will settle daily care.

For neighborhoods, other local contacts, and in-home options across the city, return to the Philadelphia dementia care hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

NIA publishes which institutions currently hold that designation. This directory does not name a specific Philadelphia ADRC address. Use NIA's Find an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center tool, then call the center you find to confirm location, referral rules, and whether it sees patients for clinical evaluation or mainly for research.

Which Philadelphia hospital has a dedicated memory clinic or geriatric unit?

CMS profiles for the hospitals listed above do not say whether a dedicated memory or geriatric unit exists. Call the hospital and ask about memory evaluation, geriatric medicine, cognitive neurology, or how they handle discharge for a patient with dementia.

What should we bring to a first memory evaluation in Philadelphia?

Bring a medication list, insurance information, glasses and hearing aids, any prior test results you already have, a written timeline of changes, and a family member or friend who knows daily routines. Ask the clinic when you schedule whether a primary-care referral is required.

Who can Philadelphia caregivers call for free education and support groups?

The Alzheimer's Association, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter provides free support groups, care consultations, education programs, and a helpline serving Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania. The helpline number is 800-272-3900.

How should veterans in Philadelphia ask about a memory evaluation?

Start with the Philadelphia VA Medical Center at 3900 WOODLAND AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104, phone (215) 823-5857. That campus is a Veterans Administration acute-care hospital with emergency services. Ask the medical center directly whether it offers cognitive evaluation for veterans and what referral steps apply. The CMS profile does not state that a dedicated memory unit is on site.