The Springwell Blog

This summer, Springwell began offering a new program designed to improve care for people with dementia and support for their caregivers. The GUIDE Program (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) is an initiative to provide coordinated, compassionate, and person-centered support. The model program is funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is available at no cost to those who qualify. Under the program, Springwell’s Care Navigator, Nivedha Ram, began enrolling families referred to the program in June.

Nationwide, nearly 7 million people are affected by dementia. People with dementia often have more than one chronic condition and frequently the care they receive is not well-coordinated, which can lead to poor health outcomes. In addition, many family caregivers are providing round-the-clock care, which can take a serious toll mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. The GUIDE Program was created to address these issues with a new approach.

The GUIDE Model coordinates dementia care in support of both people with dementia and their caregivers by providing evidence-based services including: comprehensive assessments to understand the specific challenges and strengths of each individual and caregiver; personalized care plans that adapt as needs evolve; ongoing support with regular check-ins to help navigate the complexities of dementia care; and caregiver services that include 24/7 access to a support line, caregiver training and education, connections to community resources, and respite services.

For those referred to the program, Nivedha (Nivi) starts with a call to review program eligibility and begin enrollment for those who qualify. Participants must have a diagnosis of mild, moderate, or severe dementia or Alzheimer’s and meet requirements around Medicare enrollment and living situation. According to Nivi, while the initial rules for the program can be a little confusing, she’s there to help, and most people are grateful for the opportunity for one-on-one support as well as the respite services that can make a well-deserved break possible.

Springwell’s Chief Program Development Officer, Laura Oberlander, recently noted, “The GUIDE Program fits perfectly with Springwell’s mission to help people facing challenges that are associated with aging enjoy a better quality of life while easing the burden on their caregivers – so more people can live and age at home longer.”

To learn more about this program and inquire about enrollment, please contact Springwell at 617-926-4100.