Specialized In‑Home Dementia Care in North Texas

Medicare’s GUIDE Program: No-Cost Dementia Support

If you are caring for someone with dementia, you already know it is around-the-clock work. Medicare’s GUIDE program — Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience — was created to help, with a dedicated care team, education and support for you, and paid respite care so you can rest.

The program is fully covered by Medicare. There is no cost and no copay to qualifying families.

Heaven at Home is a partner organization, not a GUIDE Participant. The GUIDE Participant your family enrolls with runs the program, confirms eligibility, and provides the clinical services. Our role is the in-home respite care, which we deliver for families across North Texas.

Who qualifies

Your loved one may qualify if they have dementia, have Original Medicare Part A and Part B, and live at home. If there is no formal diagnosis yet, one can often be arranged as part of enrollment.

They would not be eligible if they are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, PACE, or a Special Needs Plan; are receiving hospice care; are a long-term nursing home resident; or live in a residential care community such as memory care or assisted living.

Veterans, families who have both Medicare and Medicaid, and people receiving palliative care can all be eligible. Palliative care and hospice are different things here — palliative care is fine, hospice is not.

What GUIDE includes

• A care team to help you understand your options and coordinate care
• A care plan built around your loved one’s needs and your family’s goals
• Education, training and ongoing support for you as the caregiver
• 24/7 access to your care team
• Medication review and coordination
• About 76 hours of in-home respite care each year, for families who qualify for it

The clinical services come from your GUIDE care team. Heaven at Home provides the non-medical in-home respite care — our caregivers do not provide nursing or medical care.

What respite care looks like

A Heaven at Home caregiver comes to your home so you can step away — to sleep, run errands, go to your own doctor’s appointment, or simply have an afternoon that belongs to you. Our caregivers help with companionship, personal care, meals, light housekeeping, and keeping your loved one safe and engaged while you are away.

Not every GUIDE family receives respite hours. Respite is available when the person has moderate or severe dementia and has a family member or other unpaid caregiver involved in their care. Families at the earlier, mild stage receive the program’s other services, and become eligible for respite as needs change.

Qualifying families receive about 76 hours of respite care per year, fully covered. Medicare sets the exact figure and it can shift slightly year to year. Hours are used in four-hour minimum blocks, reset every July 1, and unused hours do not carry over.

How to find out if you qualify

Call us at 940-380-0500 and tell us you’re interested in the GUIDE program. We’ll talk through what the program covers and connect you with a GUIDE Participant, who confirms eligibility and handles enrollment.

There is no cost to find out whether you qualify, and no obligation. If GUIDE isn’t the right fit, we’ll tell you that and point you toward something that is.

Does Medicare pay for respite care?

Yes, through the GUIDE program. Qualifying families receive about 76 hours of respite care each year at no cost. Respite is not normally covered by Medicare outside of hospice, which is what makes GUIDE unusual.

Can my parent qualify if they have Medicare Advantage?

No. GUIDE requires Original Medicare, Part A and Part B. Medicare Advantage, PACE, and Special Needs Plans are all excluded.

Can my parent qualify if they live in memory care or assisted living?

No. GUIDE is for people living at home. Residents of memory care, assisted living, and long-term nursing homes are not eligible.

My parent is in the early stages. Can we still join?

Yes. Families at the mild stage receive GUIDE’s care navigation, care planning, education and 24/7 care team access. Respite hours specifically become available when dementia reaches the moderate or severe stage and a family caregiver is involved.

My loved one is receiving palliative care. Does that disqualify them?

No. Palliative care is acceptable under GUIDE. Hospice is what makes someone ineligible — the two are often confused, so it is worth asking us if you are unsure which applies.

Do the respite hours roll over if we don’t use them?

No. The benefit resets every July 1 and unused hours do not carry over. Hours are also used in four-hour minimum blocks.