The Medicare GUIDE Program: A New Era in Dementia Care

Laura Daniels, a registered nurse and founder of Care Advocates, hosts this podcast to help families and professionals find the right solutions for seniors in transition. In this episode, she interviews Mona Talukdar, a highly respected leader in senior care, about the Medicare Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model. They discuss this groundbreaking program, which is changing how dementia is treated in the U.S. by providing comprehensive, wraparound support for both patients and their caregivers. Tune in to learn about eligibility, program benefits, and why this model is a crucial step forward in eldercare.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:19: Introduction

  • Host Laura Daniels welcomes listeners and introduces the podcast's purpose: providing guidance and answers for every step of the eldercare journey.

• 00:20 - 01:11: Meet the Host, Laura Daniels

  • Laura shares her background as a registered nurse specializing in geriatrics and the motivation behind creating Navigating Eldercare and her company, Care Advocates.

• 01:12 - 01:39: The Mission of Care Advocates

  • Laura explains how her company, Care Advocates, works with families to create customized care plans and provides ongoing support, education, and advocacy.

• 01:40 - 02:05: Introduction of Guest, Mona Talukdar

  • Laura introduces her guest, Mona Talukdar, a respected leader in senior care with over 12 years of experience in memory care, highlighting her work with the Alzheimer's Association and the Medicare GUIDE model.

• 02:06 - 02:31: Understanding the GUIDE Program

  • Mona explains what the Medicare Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) program is—a new, groundbreaking program that funds not only medical care but also navigation, education, and support for dementia patients and their caregivers.

• 02:32 - 03:23: The Groundbreaking Nature of GUIDE

  • Mona discusses why the GUIDE program is so important, emphasizing that dementia is a "family disease" and that the program is the first of its kind to recognize and support the needs of caregivers with services like respite care.

• 03:24 - 04:20: What Makes GUIDE Different

  • The discussion highlights how GUIDE differs from other Medicare benefits by bringing multiple support services under one umbrella, including 24/7 support, caregiver education, and paid respite care.

• 04:21 - 05:41: GUIDE Program Eligibility and Exclusions

  • Mona clarifies who is eligible for the program (those with a formal dementia diagnosis and traditional Medicare) and who is not (Medicare Advantage members, and those in nursing homes or on hospice).

• 05:42 - 06:35: Finding a GUIDE Participant

  • Mona advises listeners on how to find a local GUIDE participant through the Medicare or CMS website and provides her contact information for those in the San Antonio area.

• 06:36 - 08:31: The Benefits of GUIDE

  • Mona details the key benefits of the program, including dementia-trained care navigators, 24/7 phone support for crises, individualized care plans, and home assessments.

• 08:32 - 10:21: The Role of a Care Navigator

  • Mona explains the critical role of the care navigator as a personal assistant who coordinates care, arranges services like counseling and respite, and knows the patient's needs inside and out.

• 10:22 - 11:17: The Onboarding and Alignment Process

  • Mona describes the process of "alignment," which involves a comprehensive assessment, gathering medical records, and getting approval from Medicare to begin receiving GUIDE services.

• 11:18 - 12:45: The Importance of Caregiver Training and Education

  • Mona and Laura discuss the toll of caregiver burnout and why the education and training component of the GUIDE program are so vital to help caregivers understand dementia behaviors, manage stress, and prevent accelerated aging.

• 12:46 - 14:06: The Value of Respite Care

  • Mona emphasizes the importance of respite services, which offer short-term relief for caregivers through in-home support, adult day programs, or overnight stays, all paid for by Medicare at no cost to the family.

• 14:07 - 15:03: Access and Availability

  • Mo