Medicare’s dementia care benefit
A Medicare program built for families living with dementia.
What is GUIDE?
Medicare’s coordinated dementia care model. Around-the-clock specialist support, no out-of-pocket cost for covered visits, and respite for the primary caregiver. If you qualify, Mindspan handles enrollment.
What you get
Concrete benefits, coordinated for you.
GUIDE is not a list of perks you have to claim one at a time. Once enrolled, these become part of your ongoing care.
Respite for the caregiver
Time away, paid through the program.
Caregiving does not stop. GUIDE includes respite support (up to $2,500 a year) so the primary caregiver can take time for themselves, an afternoon, a weekend, or a week, while their loved one is cared for.
24/7 specialist access
Someone to call, day or night.
A medical question at 10pm. A scary change on a Saturday. GUIDE includes around-the-clock access to a specialist-staffed line, so you are not alone with it. The 24/7 line is operated by Ianacare, our GUIDE Partner Organization.
No out-of-pocket cost
No out-of-pocket cost for covered visits.
Qualifying GUIDE patients pay $0 for covered Mindspan visits. We verify your benefits and tell you exactly what is covered before your first appointment.
A dedicated care coordinator
One person who knows your family.
Instead of chasing specialists, you have a single care coordinator who stays with your family between visits, answering questions, coordinating tests, and keeping your primary care physician in the loop.
Care planning and education
Practical guidance as needs change.
A dementia diagnosis changes over time. GUIDE includes ongoing care planning and caregiver education, what to expect at each stage, how to handle hard days, and what decisions may be coming.
Coordinated team-based care
Neurologist, care team, PCP, in sync.
Mindspan coordinates directly with your primary care physician and any other specialists involved. You should not have to be the messenger between them.
24/7 specialist access
Someone to call, day or night.
A medical question at 10pm. A scary change on a Saturday. The specialist line is staffed around the clock for GUIDE families, so you are not alone with the hard moments. One number, day or night, answered by someone who knows dementia care. The line is operated by Ianacare, our GUIDE Partner Organization.
Who qualifies
Three things have to be true.
If all three apply, you are very likely eligible. We confirm during onboarding, there is nothing to sign up for in advance.
Diagnosis
A dementia diagnosis
Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body, vascular dementia, frontotemporal, or another form of dementia. A clinical diagnosis is required. If your loved one has not yet been formally diagnosed, we can help with that first.
Coverage
Enrolled in Original Medicare
GUIDE is available to people enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B). It is not available to people enrolled in Medicare Advantage or PACE programs. We can help you confirm which you have.
Location
In Massachusetts or California
Our current GUIDE service areas. If you are in MA or CA, or you have a loved one who is, we can work with you.
How enrollment works
We do the paperwork. You do not.
You do not apply to GUIDE directly, your care provider does. If you come to Mindspan and you qualify, we enroll you as part of starting care.
Step 01
Call us
Start the same way any new patient does. We do not ask about GUIDE up front, we focus on the medical situation first.
Step 02
We verify your benefits
During onboarding, we check your Medicare coverage and confirm which of our services are covered for you, including whether GUIDE applies.
Step 03
If eligible, we enroll your family
If you qualify, we handle the GUIDE enrollment on your behalf. A care coordinator walks you through what becomes available, respite dollars, the 24/7 line, and ongoing care planning.
Step 04
Benefits begin
From that point on, your family has access to GUIDE benefits as part of ongoing care. There is nothing extra you have to remember to use.
Common questions
What families ask us about GUIDE.
The statements contained in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CMS. The authors assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this document.
Mindspan’s 24/7 specialist line is operated by Ianacare, our GUIDE Partner Organization.
When you are ready
Start with a conversation.
We will figure out what applies.
You do not need to know whether you qualify for GUIDE before you reach out. Come talk to us, we sort out coverage, eligibility, and next steps together.
With care, the Mindspan team