PCA — Free Dementia Caregiver Support in Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is the Area Agency on Aging for the city of Philadelphia, serving older adults and family caregivers across all of Philadelphia County. PCA’s caregiver support work focuses heavily on dementia caregiving — including free support groups, education programs, and one-on-one consultations — while also providing general caregiver support across other conditions.
What to Expect
PCA partners with local organizations and clinical teams to host free caregiver support groups across Philadelphia. Groups meet in person at sites throughout the city and online via Zoom. Sessions are facilitated by trained staff — often partnering with the Penn Memory Center and the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter — and follow a confidential, peer-driven format. Caregivers also have access to PCA Helpline counselors, education classes on dementia and aging, and referrals to home-based services, adult day programs, and respite vouchers.
Who This Group Is For
PCA serves Philadelphia residents who are family caregivers of older adults — adult children, spouses, partners, siblings, grandchildren, and friends. The program is especially helpful for caregivers navigating a recent dementia diagnosis, a parent’s transition to a higher level of care, or a complex Medicare and Medicaid situation. PCA’s bilingual staff and culturally responsive programs make services accessible across Philadelphia’s diverse communities.
Why Peer Support Works
Family caregivers in Philadelphia often describe the role as quietly invisible — a parent’s slow decline, a spouse’s mobility loss, a sibling’s mental health crisis — all managed without much outside acknowledgment. A regular peer support group answers that invisibility by putting caregivers in steady contact with others who know what it’s actually like. PCA’s network-based approach means caregivers can build a support layer that includes group attendance, individual counseling, and connection to home-based and community services.
How to Join
All PCA caregiver services are free. To find a current support group or get matched to other services, call the PCA Helpline at (215) 765-9040 or visit pcacares.org/news/support-is-available-for-dementia-caregivers. Helpline staff can connect caregivers with support groups, education programs, respite vouchers, and the broader network of Philadelphia aging services.