HELPING THOSE LIVING WITH
Dementia
AND THEIR CAREGIVERS
GUIDE Dementia Care – Providing Needed Support in Northeast Iowa
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia — or think dementia might be a concern — the GUIDE Dementia Care program may be able to help (see eligibility). This program is offered by Cedar Valley Hospice in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to support people living with dementia and their caregivers. This program is covered fully by Medicare to those who qualify.
6.7 million
Americans age 65 or older have dementia.
10 million
new cases of dementia are diagnosed every year.
11 million
unpaid caregivers provided 18.5 billion hours of care in 2020.
Erica Jensen, ARNP
GUIDE Nurse Practitioner
Tiffany Wollum
GUIDE Dementia Care Navigator
What is GUIDE Dementia Care?
GUIDE Dementia Care is a program of Cedar Valley Hospice provided in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Care will be provided across 15 counties in Northeast Iowa, including: Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Grundy, Benton, Butler, Chickasaw, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Hardin, Marshall, Linn and Tama.
Program Goals:
- Improve quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers by addressing behavioral health and functional needs, coordinating care for dementia and co-occurring conditions and improving the transition and connection between community, hospital and post-acute settings.
- Reduce burden and strain on unpaid caregivers by providing skills training, referrals to community-based social services and supports, respite services for qualified participants and 24/7 access to a support line.
- Prevent or delay long-term nursing home care by supporting caregivers and enabling people living with dementia to remain safely in their homes for as long as possible.
How the Program Works
Eligibility Guidelines
Patients who wish to enroll in GUIDE Dementia Care must meet requirements for eligibility. These include:
- Patient has dementia, as confirmed by program’s clinician verification
- Have Medicare as their primary payor
- Enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B (not enrolled in Medicare Advantage, including Special Needs Plans)
- Not enrolled in Medicare hospice benefit or PACE
- Live at home, an independent or assisted living facility or short-term skilled stay
The Enrollment Process
Initial Visit
Our provider will make an initial visit that includes a comprehensive patient assessment and a caregiver burden assessment.
Program Enrollment
Information gathered from the initial visit to shared with CMS to approve alignment and assign the tier of services. This process is currently taking 30 days.
Patient and Caregiver Services
GUIDE Dementia Care Payment
The GUIDE Dementia Care program is covered fully by Medicare. There is an annual cap for respite services for those who qualify.
Have a Referral?
Anyone can refer a friend or family member to Cedar Valley Hospice. Simply complete and submit the form below to get started. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 800.626.2360.
Your support allows us to provide expert care for all
Enriching lives in the Cedar Valley is at the forefront of our mission. We are experts in providing hospice and palliative care, grief support and providing additional services for those with life changing diagnoses. As a not-for-profit organization, your gifts make our mission possible!
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Our volunteers are the heart of our organization. From visiting patients to helping with events, they perform a number of different roles that are vital to helping us carry out our mission.
