12/21/2025
Are you caregiving for a loved one with dementia? Medicare has a new program that can help! Check it out.
You may be eligible for free dementia care support through a new Medicare program called GUIDE (Guiding Improved Dementia Experience). GUIDE helps people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and their fam caregivers get the support they need to stay safely in their homes.
GUIDE provides you with a dedicated care navigator who helps coordinate your care and connects you with local community resources, like home-delivered meals and medical transportation. Your family caregivers get personalized training in caring for someone with dementia and may be eligible for respite services, within a yearly allowance, to take a break when they need to. You can call your care navigator 24 hours a day with questions about your care, help to coordinate medical appointments, and talk about a personalized care plan based on what matters most to you.
Who can get GUIDE support:
You are eligible for GUIDE if you have Medicare Parts A and B as your primary sourc of health insurance. You are not eligible if you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, Hospice, or the Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly. You also must have Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia.
Your Medicare benefits stay the same. GUIDE is voluntary and doesn't change your Medicare coverage, including supplemental or Medigap plans. You can still see any doctor, health care provider, or hospital that accepts Medicare.
How to get started:
Contact a participating doctor or care team . Learn more about what the GUIDE program offers, including if they provide telehealth or in-person services → Meet the care team and receive comprehensive assessment → If you're eligible, you'll begin receiving GUIDE services. There's no cost to participate and no obligation to join.
You have the right to get Medicare information in an accessible format, like in a language other than English, large print Braille, or audio. You also have the right to file a complaint if you feel you've been discriminated against. Visit Medicare.gov/about-us/accessibility-nondiscrimination-notice, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for more information. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
For caregivers: If you're a caregiver who wants to speak to Medicare on behalf of someone with dementia, you have to complete an "Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information" form. Find it at Medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/forms/other or in your Medicare.gov account under "Manage my representatives".
To find an up-to-date list of participating providers and program details, check the official GUIDE website at CMS.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide.
The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a voluntary, nationwide model testing the impact of providing comprehensive services and supports for people with dementia and their caregivers.
