Advocate Memory — Free Dementia Caregiver Support in Chicago Suburbs
Advocate Health Care’s Memory Center offers free caregiver support groups in the northwest Chicago suburbs for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Meetings are open to the public — caregivers don’t need to be Advocate patients to attend — and the format combines peer connection with the clinical depth that comes from a hospital-system memory program.
What to Expect
The Advocate Memory Center hosts free caregiver support groups at multiple locations on a regular schedule. Meetings take place at Advocate Older Adult Services (9375 Church St, Des Plaines, IL) on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Nesset Pavilion (1775 Ballard Rd, Lower Level, Conference Room 1, Park Ridge, IL) on the 1st Friday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and via Zoom for caregivers who prefer or need to attend online. Sessions are facilitated by trained Advocate staff with deep experience in dementia care. The format is confidential and peer-driven, with topics ranging across the caregiving journey: managing medications, communicating effectively, planning for the next stage of care, and grieving the slow changes that come with dementia.
Who This Group Is For
The groups are open to family caregivers of someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in the Chicago metro area — adult children, spouses, partners, siblings, and friends in a primary caregiving role. The combination of in-person and virtual options makes the schedule accessible whether caregivers prefer to be in a room with others or to log in from home after a long day.
Why Peer Support Works
Dementia caregivers in the Chicago suburbs often describe a particular kind of isolation — busy work lives, scattered family, and a sense that few people around them understand what’s happening at home. A regular peer support group answers that loneliness by putting caregivers in steady contact with others walking the same path. The connection to Advocate’s broader memory program means caregivers can plug into clinical care, educational programs, and additional services when they’re ready.
How to Join
The Advocate Memory Center caregiver support groups are free and open to the public. Visit advocatehealth.com/health-services/advocate-memory-center/patient-family-resources/support-groups for the current schedule, locations, and Zoom registration. The Memory Center can also be reached at (847) 723-7300 for additional information about caregiver services.