GUIDE Model
Improving the quality of life for patients with Alzheimer's, dementia, and their unpaid caregivers.
What is the GUIDE Model?
The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with dementia and reduce the strain on their caregivers by coordinating the provision of proper care and resources.
What Does First Choice Neurology Offer?
- Personalized Care Planning – A dedicated care team helps patients and families navigate dementia care, schedule assessments, and stay connected to needed services.
- Caregiver Support & Education – Includes dementia-specific training, stress management resources, and continuous access to your care team for questions or concerns.
- Respite Services (if eligible) – Temporary care may be provided at home, in adult day centers, or in a facility to support caregivers while ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality care.
How Does the GUIDE Model Work?
STEP 1: Get Connected
You may be referred by your provider, or you can contact our care team directly to check eligibility and start enrollment.
STEP 2: Initial Assessment
A member of our clinical team will complete an assessment to confirm eligibility for the GUIDE Model.
STEP 3: Personalized Care Plan
Once aligned to the GUIDE Model, a personalized care plan is created based on the individual’s needs, diagnosis, and available support system.
STEP 4: Ongoing Support
Our care team works with both patients and caregivers to provide guidance, education, and resources for managing dementia care and accessing available services.
And... It's covered by Medicare Part B!
Who Qualifies for the GUIDE Model?
To qualify, patients must:
- Have a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
- Be enrolled in Medicare Part B
Important Information:
- Your insurance plan benefits will not change.
- You still have the right to visit any doctor, healthcare professional, or hospital at any time.
Dementia and the GUIDE Model
A Consistent Approach to Dementia Care
First Choice Neurology is a participant in the GUIDE Model, a Medicare-supported model designed to help individuals with dementia remain safely at home. The program sets clear standards for staffing, caregiver support, and coordinated services to ensure consistent, high-quality care.
Support for Unpaid Caregivers
The GUIDE Model recognizes that unpaid caregivers are essential to dementia care. As a participant, First Choice Neurology provides caregiver education and continuous access to support, helping families feel more confident, connected, and supported throughout he care journey.
Alternative Payment Methodology
GUIDE is a covered Medicare service with no cost to eligible patients. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays participating organizations like First Choice Neurology to deliver consistent, team-based dementia care, removing barriers tied to traditional billing.
Respite Services
Short-term care may be available for patients who qualify. Respite services support individuals living with dementia while giving their caregivers time to rest and care for themselves, at home or in other care settings.
Health-Related Social Needs
First Choice Neurology screens GUIDE participants for psychosocial and health-related social needs, including concerns like emotional well-being and fall risk. When support is needed, families are connected to trusted local resources to help address these needs.
What Is the CARES Program?
The CARES Program is a diagnosis-focused care management service offered by First Choice Neurology for individuals with Medicare Advantage or commercial insurance. It provides personalized support through regular check-ins, care coordination, and resource navigation to help patients and families manage dementia-related needs and stay connected to quality care.
CARES Program
Designed for Medicare Advantage and commercial patients.
GUIDE Model
A CMS program for those enrolled in Medicare Part B.
Guiding Caregivers
Designed for caregivers supporting their loved ones.
The story of a daughter’s love and a mother’s care, as told by their GUIDE Model Care Navigator.
Speak to a Care Navigator Today!
Call: (786) 688-4822
Email: FCN-Guide@fcneurology.net
Dementia affects more than 6.7 million Americans in 2023, with 14 million projected cases by 2060. People with dementia often have multiple chronic conditions and receive fragmented care, leading to high rates of hospitalization and emergency department visits. They also may have behavioral health symptoms and often need 24/7 care.
The GUIDE Model will include 24/7 access to a support line, as well as caregiver training, education, and support services. This standard approach will allow people with dementia to remain safely in their homes for longer by preventing or delaying nursing home placement and improving quality of life for both people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers.
To reduce disparities in access to dementia care services, the GUIDE Model incorporates policies to enhance health equity by ensuring that underserved communities have equal access to the model intervention.