What is the GUIDE dementia model?
GUIDE is a Medicare program in which participating provider organizations give people living with dementia and their unpaid caregivers a dedicated care navigator, a 24-hour support line, caregiver training, and access to respite services, with the goal of helping the person stay at home longer.
What this means
- GUIDE stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience. It is run by the Medicare innovation center within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
- A care navigator is a named person you can call who helps coordinate doctors, medicines, community services and crises.
- The person with dementia must have Original Medicare, meaning Medicare Part A and Part B, and not be in a nursing home.
- Respite through GUIDE is capped at an annual dollar amount and is only available at participating organizations.
What to do first
- Check the CMS GUIDE model page for the list of participating organizations and see whether one serves your area.
- Ask the neurologist or primary care doctor whether their health system participates.
- If no GUIDE provider is near you, call your Area Agency on Aging about caregiver support and respite under the National Family Caregiver Support Program instead.
- Ask about a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver as well, since the two can address different needs.
National Family Caregiver Support Program
Respite, training, counseling, and sometimes small grants for the family member doing the caring.
GUIDE Model for Dementia Care
A Medicare program for people with dementia that assigns a care navigator and pays for respite.
What you'll need
- Usually nothing beyond a phone assessment
- Medicare card
- Documentation of the dementia diagnosis
Deadlines and timing
- GUIDE is not available everywhere and enrollment depends on a participating organization accepting you.
- People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or living in a nursing home are generally not eligible.
- Respite dollars are capped per year and do not roll over.
Where to go
- National Family Caregiver Support Program: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx
- GUIDE Model for Dementia Care: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 25, 2026
Sources
- GUIDE Model · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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