It is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, began on 1 July 2024 and is set to run for eight years. Each person is assigned a care navigator who helps them reach services and community resources.
The respite payment can go toward in-home care, adult day programs or a short facility stay. The program is delivered through participating organisations, so it is not available everywhere, and the first step is finding out whether a provider near you takes part.
Why it matters
It is one of the few Medicare benefits that pays for a family caregiver's time off, and most families have not heard of it.
Questions people ask
What is the GUIDE Model for dementia care?
The GUIDE Model is a voluntary, nationwide Medicare program that pays for coordinated dementia care and caregiver support for people living at home. CMS says it began on July 1, 2024 and will run for eight years. Participating care teams offer a care navigator, a support line that can be reached at any hour, caregiver training and education, respite services and links to community help such as meals and transportation.
Does Medicare pay for the GUIDE Model?
Yes. GUIDE services are paid by Medicare, and CMS says participating providers may not charge patients anything for them, including respite care, so there is no cost-sharing. Regular Medicare benefits stay the same, and patients can still see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. Joining is voluntary and can be stopped at any time. Providers receive a monthly dementia care management payment from Medicare instead.
Who qualifies for the GUIDE Model for dementia patients?
A person qualifies if a GUIDE clinician confirms they have dementia, they are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B with Medicare as their primary payer, and they are not in Medicare Advantage, PACE or hospice. CMS also requires that they live in a private home or a partnering residential care community, not a long-term nursing home or, from July 2026, a memory care unit.
Does the GUIDE Model cover respite care?
Yes. CMS pays GUIDE participants up to $2,500 a year per eligible patient, adjusted for inflation, for respite that gives qualifying unpaid caregivers a break. It can be in-home care, adult day center programs or a short stay in a facility, with no cost to the family. CMS notes that people living in a residential care community are not eligible for GUIDE respite, though their caregivers still get education and support.
How do I find a GUIDE Model provider?
CMS publishes a GUIDE participant list, updated regularly, showing the organizations actively serving patients and the states they cover. Once you find one near you, contact the GUIDE doctor or care team to schedule a comprehensive assessment, which can be done in person or virtually. The team then submits your information to CMS to confirm eligibility and tells you when you are officially enrolled.
Sources
Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: GUIDE Model
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: GUIDE Model frequently asked questions
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: GUIDE information for patients and caregivers
What we offer: Respite Care.
GUIDE Model where you live
The local guide on this, for each city we cover.
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Naples, FL
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tampa, FL
- Tucson, AZ