Extra dementia care support, covered through Medicare
Seniors Helping Seniors is proud to partner with PocketRN, a Medicare-approved GUIDE dementia care provider, to help eligible families access additional dementia support and respite care at no cost through Medicare.
The Medicare GUIDE program is designed for people living with dementia and the family members or unpaid caregivers who help support them. GUIDE can provide care navigation, caregiver education, 24/7 support, care coordination, and respite care to help families manage dementia care at home.
Through Seniors Helping Seniors, eligible clients may use GUIDE-covered respite hours for in-home support, companionship, supervision, and caregiver relief.
What Is Medicare GUIDE?
Medicare GUIDE stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience. It is a nationwide Medicare program created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve dementia care, support family caregivers, and help people living with dementia remain safely at home longer.
The program helps address common challenges families face, including fragmented care, caregiver burnout, and difficulty coordinating services.
GUIDE may include:
- A dedicated dementia care navigator
- Caregiver education and training 24/7 access to support
- Comprehensive assessment and care planning
- Care coordination and referrals
- Respite care to give family caregivers relief
How Seniors Helping Seniors Fits In
Seniors Helping Seniors provides the in-home respite and support services that eligible families may access through GUIDE.
Families can use GUIDE in one of two ways:
Use GUIDE as your primary care support through Seniors Helping Seniors
Some families may begin with GUIDE-covered services only. This can be a helpful way to start receiving support at home while the GUIDE enrollment and care planning process is completed.
Use GUIDE to supplement existing Seniors Helping Seniors services
Families already receiving care from Seniors Helping Seniors may be able to use GUIDE-covered respite hours to add support on top of their current schedule.
These hours are intended to supplement and enhance the care you are already receiving, not replace it. Participation in GUIDE will not disrupt your current Seniors Helping Seniors services.
This may help with:
- Additional companionship and supervision
- Relief for a spouse, adult child, or other unpaid caregiver
- Coverage when family caregivers need time away
- More consistent support for the person living with dementia
Who May Be Eligible?
A person may qualify for Medicare GUIDE if they:
- Are enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B, also known as Original Medicare
- Have moderate to severe dementia
- Have a family member or unpaid caregiver involved in their care
- Are not on hospice
- Are not living in a skilled nursing facility
The caregiver does not need to live with the person receiving care.
Eligibility is reviewed through the GUIDE enrollment process with our Medicare-approved GUIDE partner.
How Many Hours Are Covered?
Beginning in 2026, eligible clients may receive up to 76 hours per year of GUIDE-covered respite or home care services through Seniors Helping Seniors.
For GUIDE-covered hours, families do not pay Seniors Helping Seniors directly. GUIDE-covered respite services are paid through Medicare. Families may only be billed directly for incidental charges, non-GUIDE services, or services beyond what GUIDE covers.
These hours can be used in two ways:
As a starting point for care
Families may begin with GUIDE-covered services through Seniors Helping Seniors.
As supplemental support
Families already receiving care may use GUIDE-covered hours to add support on top of their current schedule.
GUIDE-covered hours are intended to help provide caregiver relief, companionship, supervision, and additional support for people living with dementia and their families.
What GUIDE-Covered Care Can Look Like
GUIDE-covered respite hours can be used for in-home support such as:
- Companionship
- Safety supervision
- Dementia-friendly engagement
- Meal support
- Light household support related to the visit
- Relief time for family caregivers
- Coverage during caregiver appointments, errands, work, or rest
Our goal is to help families use GUIDE in a way that adds meaningful support while maintaining continuity with trusted Seniors Helping Seniors caregivers.
How to Begin the GUIDE Enrollment Process
Contact Seniors Helping Seniors
Reach out to our team and let us know you are interested in the Medicare GUIDE program. If you are calling specifically about GUIDE, you will be connected with our Medicare GUIDE Program Manager.
Complete an informational call
We will explain how the GUIDE program works, answer your questions, and review whether your loved one may meet the basic eligibility criteria.
Begin the GUIDE onboarding process
If GUIDE appears to be a good fit, our team will help start the onboarding process with our Medicare-approved GUIDE partner, PocketRN.
We will also create a prospective client record so we can track your status, follow up with your family, and keep the enrollment process moving.
Gather required information
Families may be asked to provide or complete documentation related to: Dementia diagnosis, Current medications, Power of attorney or decision maker information, if applicable, Activities of daily living, Instrumental activities of daily living, Home safety information.
Our team will help explain what is needed and guide you through the process.
Complete assessment and approval process
Once the GUIDE process is underway, we coordinate the next steps, including assessment scheduling and review.
If the client is approved for GUIDE, Seniors Helping Seniors will help activate services and coordinate care.
Start GUIDE-covered services
After approval and required paperwork are complete, we will help schedule GUIDE-covered respite care.
Families using GUIDE-only services still complete Seniors Helping Seniors paperwork, including billing information for any incidental charges, non-GUIDE services, or services beyond what GUIDE covers. This does not mean families pay directly for approved GUIDE-covered hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicare GUIDE free?
For eligible clients, GUIDE is a Medicare-supported benefit and may be available at no cost. Eligibility must be confirmed through the GUIDE enrollment process.
Do families pay Seniors Helping Seniors directly for GUIDE-covered hours?
No. For approved GUIDE-covered respite hours, families do not pay Seniors Helping Seniors directly. Those services are paid through Medicare. Families may only be billed for incidental charges, non-GUIDE services, or care that falls outside the GUIDE-covered benefit.
Do I have to be an existing Seniors Helping Seniors client?
No. Families may contact us specifically for GUIDE-covered services, or existing Seniors Helping Seniors clients may explore GUIDE as an added source of support.
Can GUIDE replace our current care schedule?
GUIDE is best described as a way to add support, not automatically replace existing care.
For current Seniors Helping Seniors families, GUIDE-covered respite hours may supplement and enhance the care already in place. For new families, GUIDE may also be used as a starting point for services through Seniors Helping Seniors.
How many hours are available?
Beginning in 2026, eligible clients may receive up to 76 hours per year of GUIDE-covered respite or home care services.
Can we use GUIDE if our loved one has dementia but lives alone?
Possibly, but GUIDE requires that a family member or unpaid caregiver be involved in the person’s care. The caregiver does not need to live with the person.
Can someone qualify if they are on hospice or in a skilled nursing facility?
No. Clients must not be on hospice or living in a skilled nursing facility to qualify.
What can GUIDE-covered hours be used for?
GUIDE-covered hours can be used for respite and home care support, including companionship, supervision, dementia-friendly engagement, meal support, and relief time for family caregivers.
Who helps us through the enrollment process?
A Seniors Helping Seniors team member will help explain the program, review basic eligibility, coordinate with our Medicare-approved GUIDE partner, and guide your family through the next steps.
Find Out Whether Your Family May Qualify
If your loved one is living with dementia and has Medicare Parts A & B, the GUIDE program may help your family access additional support at home. Seniors Helping
Seniors can help you understand the program, begin the enrollment process, and determine how GUIDE-covered respite hours may fit with your family’s care needs.