CU Medicine GUIDE Program for Dementia Care

Set of interlocked hands

CU Medicine is a participating site in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model. Our GUIDE program is one of many offered across the country and throughout Colorado. GUIDE is a dementia care management program that supports coordinated, comprehensive care for people living with dementia. At CU Medicine, the GUIDE program works alongside patients’ primary care and/or neurology teams to improve quality of life, reduce strain on family caregivers, and help individuals remain in their homes and communities.

 

Are you a care partner of a person living with dementia and looking for helpful resources? View our resources section.

CU Medicine GUIDE Program Eligibility Criteria

  • Individuals with dementia and a family caregiver (if present)
  • The person with dementia must have traditional Medicare insurance (not Medicare Advantage).
  • The person with dementia must live in a home setting or independent living, rather than in a nursing home, assisted living or memory care.
  • The person with dementia must live in the Denver Metro area. Participants who live in nearby areas may also be eligible. Contact our team for more information. To find other GUIDE programs in Colorado, view this document. To find a GUIDE program in another state, download this excel. 
  • The person with dementia must NOT be enrolled in hospice or another GUIDE program

 

How does the program work?

GUIDE includes an annual comprehensive dementia assessment and routine monthly calls with a trained GUIDE care navigator. The program assists with:

  • Person-centered care plans
  • Cognition-focused medication review
  • Care coordination
  • Transitional care support
  • Coordination with community resources
  • Caregiver support and education
  • In-home safety assessments and respite services for eligible participants

 

How do I enroll someone living with dementia in CU Medicine's GUIDE Program?

First, contact the CU Medicine GUIDE program team at 303-724-3141or email us at dementia.care@cuanschutz.edu for a review of eligibility for the person with dementia.

The GUIDE team will then gather information about the person with dementia and a participating care partner, if present. The GUIDE team will schedule intake visits: participants may be scheduled for an in-person comprehensive assessment visit with a doctor at the UCHealth Seniors Clinic and then a visit with the GUIDE team doctor to review and submit information to Medicare for approval.

The GUIDE program seeks to ensure that underserved individuals and families have equal access to care and are assessed for health-related social needs. The GUIDE program is a collaboration with the University of Colorado Medicine and the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Colorado.

 

Hear from our providers about CU Medicine's GUIDE Program

 

Helpful Resources

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How soon can we become enrolled in CU Medicine’s GUIDE program?

Our program often keeps a waitlist ranging from 3-6 months before families are enrolled in our program.

 

To enroll in CU Medicine’s GUIDE program, who is required to live in the Denver area—the person living with dementia or their care partner?

Only the person living with dementia is required to live in Denver or surrounding areas. Care partners can participate, even if they do not live locally.

 

The Medicare beneficiary living with dementia does not live in Denver or the surrounding areas, how can I find a program in my area?

Please see our Listing of other Colorado GUIDE programs to find a program in your area. For Colorado counties that are not served by any local programs, you may contact the national agencies listed to learn if they provide services in your area. If the Medicare beneficiary does not live in the state of Colorado, please find a GUIDE provider in your area by searching the Center’s For Medicare and Medicaid full list of all GUIDE providers.

 

How are respite benefits provided in the GUIDE program?

GUIDE respite benefits are only available to beneficiaries who are determined to be eligible by Medicare. Eligibility is determined by the severity of dementia assessed during the enrollment process in the comprehensive care visit. If a beneficiary is eligible for respite benefits, services must be used with one of our programs contracted respite agencies which include non-medical home care agencies and adult day programs.

 

Can I be enrolled in more than one GUIDE program at one time?

No. Beneficiaries and their care partners may only be enrolled in one program at a time.

 

GUIDE Care Team

  • Geriatric Medicine Doctors
  • Dementia Care Navigators
  • Social Workers
  • Pharmacists
  • Behavioral Health Clinicians


Questions? Contact

GUIDE Program
303-724-3141
dementia.care@cuanschutz.edu

 

Information for Referring Providers

Outside of UCHealth:

Contact the GUIDE team via phone at 303-724-3141or email dementia.care@cuanschutz.edu

Within UCHealth:

Send a message to P AMC GUIDE DEMENTIA PROGRAM