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AgeSpan Launches GUIDE Program to Improve Dementia Care and Support Caregivers

AgeSpan is proud to announce a new program designed to improve care for people with dementia and support their unpaid caregivers. The GUIDE Program (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) is a comprehensive, coordinated dementia care initiative that provides compassionate, person-centered support for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this program will be offered through AgeSpan in partnership with CCS Health and Healthspan Partners at no cost to those who qualify.

Nationwide, nearly 7 million people are affected by dementia. CMS estimates that number will rise to 14 million by the year 2060. While the number of people with dementia is rising, the care they receive has not kept pace. They often have many different chronic conditions and the care they receive is not coordinated. This results in more hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room. Many caregivers are providing round-the-clock care, which can take a serious toll mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially.

The GUIDE Program aims to address these issues with a new approach.

Coordinated care

• Personalized care plans that adapt as needs evolve.
• Comprehensive assessments to understand the specific challenges and strengths of each individual and caregiver.
• Ongoing support with regular check-ins to help navigate the complexities of dementia care.
• Caregiver services that offer evidence-based training and education on the best ways to care for someone with dementia. This includes support for time off.

To qualify, an individual must have a diagnosis of mild, moderate, or severe dementia and meet the following conditions:

• Enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A & B (not enrolled in Medicare Advantage)
• Live in a home or in a community setting such as assisted living, a group home, or rest home (not a nursing home)
• Not enrolled in a SCO, One Care, PACE, or hospice

Another key goal of the 8-year pilot program is to reduce out-of-pocket costs by delaying long-term nursing home care and reducing hospital stays. The GUIDE Program fits perfectly with AgeSpan’s mission – to help people living with dementia enjoy a better quality of life while easing the burden on their caregivers – so more people can live comfortably at home longer.

To learn more about this program or to enroll, please contact the Healthy Living Center of Excellence at 978-946-1211 or email hcle@agespan.org.

AgeSpan has received two top honors in the 2025 National Mature Media Awards, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center – the nation’s largest program recognizing excellence in marketing and educational materials for adults age 50 and older. AgeSpan won Gold in the Annual Reports category for the 2024 Annual Impact Report, which celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary and highlighted the ways it has grown and evolved to meet the changing needs of older adults in our community. AgeSpan also received a Silver award for the video, AgeSpan’s 50 Years of Inspiring Aging: Celebrating the Power, Value and Voices of Older Adults, recognized in the Miscellaneous Marketing/Communications category. “We are honored by this recognition, especially during such a milestone year,” said AgeSpan CEO Joan Hatem-Roy. “As we celebrated our 50th anniversary, we turned the spotlight right where it belongs – on the older adults we serve. We share this honor with them and with the staff, volunteers, board and advisory council members, community partners, and generous donors who have contributed to our impact.” The National Mature Media Awards draw hundreds of entries from leading local, state, and national organizations each year. Winners are selected by a panel of mature market experts who evaluate entries on content, creativity, format, relevance, and overall excellence.