CMS's GUIDE Model is an 8-year voluntary nationwide test that began July 1, 2024 to support people with dementia and unpaid caregivers through coordinated dementia care. Other models under review in 2026 include HHS's updated National Plan and CDC's BOLD public-health work, and this checklist shows what family caregivers can act on now. GUIDE means coordinated help for medical plus behavioral needs, not a new insurance plan. Use the steps below to check eligibility, use covered supports, and follow related community resources.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Official resources:
- Read the official guidance from CMS — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
- Read the official guidance from CMS — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- What does GUIDE provide day to day?
- Can your family use GUIDE?
- What is changing in national dementia strategy?
- What community supports continue alongside GUIDE?
What does GUIDE provide day to day?
Participating GUIDE providers offer a dedicated care navigator for ongoing coordination. According to the CMS Innovation Center, that support includes comprehensive care planning and 24/7 access to a dementia-trained team member or helpline through the CMS GUIDE model page.
Caregivers can also receive skills training, education, and support groups. According to the CMS GUIDE FAQs, GUIDE pays for respite care up to a $2,500 annual cap per eligible beneficiary, adjusted for inflation, as described in the CMS GUIDE payment summary.
- Use the navigator to align medical visits, behavior symptoms, and safety planning.
- Ask what training, support groups, and respite options your GUIDE site offers.
- Track respite use against the annual cap.
Can your family use GUIDE?
Check these points before you pursue enrollment. According to the GUIDE Finder eligibility summary, eligibility requires Traditional Medicare Parts A and B, a clinician-confirmed dementia diagnosis, living at home or in the community, and enrollment through a participating GUIDE provider that confirms eligibility, as listed by the program eligibility guide.
Medicare Advantage, PACE, hospice, and long-term nursing-home residence generally exclude beneficiaries. A 2026 Synergy HomeCare summary of CMS requirements advises caregivers to verify coverage status and alternative supports before pursuing GUIDE.
- Confirm Traditional Medicare Parts A and B.
- Confirm dementia diagnosis and at-home or community residence.
- Find a participating GUIDE provider and ask for an eligibility review.
What is changing in national dementia strategy?
HHS updated the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias on Oct. 22, 2026.
According to Becker's Healthcare reporting, the update replaced six goals with four focused on risk reduction, faster discovery, high-value care, and family support in the national plan update. For caregivers, the shift points toward prevention, better care quality, and direct family support. Ask health systems and community groups how their 2026 programs match those four aims.
What community supports continue alongside GUIDE?
CDC's BOLD public-health infrastructure continues in 2026. A September 2026 Alzheimer's Association announcement says the group received two five-year CDC agreements totaling $20M to lead the Healthy Brain Initiative and BOLD Center on risk reduction.
UCSF was selected in October 2026 as a CDC BOLD Center of Excellence, according to UCSF. Its role covers earlier dementia detection and management and practical tools for caregivers and communities. Ask your clinic whether it uses BOLD or Healthy Brain Initiative materials for brain-health education and caregiver planning.
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