theconnectionsnj.com SENIOR LIVING PAGE 25 aring for a loved one with dementia is a journey filled with compassion — and often exhaustion. Families frequently shoulder the emotional, physical, and financial burden of caregiving with little formal support. While some families can afford to hire extra help, many others simply cannot. Traditional Medicare and most insurance plans haven’t covered home care services — until now. That’s changing with the launch of Medicare’s innovative GUIDE Program GUIDE Program. GUIDE — short for Guiding an Improved Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience — is a new, nocost Medicare benefit for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Through GUIDE, families gain access to expert dementia care planning, 24/7 support, and, most notably, fully covered fully covered in-home respite care, allowing caregivers to take essential breaks while their loved ones remain safe and supported at home. What sets this program apart is its multi-dimensional support model. In addition to receiving up to $2,563 per year $2,563 per year in covered respite care, caregivers are paired with a dedicated dementia care team dementia care team who provide personalized care navigation personalized care navigation. These trained professionals offer one-onone guidance, help with care decisions, connect families to valuable resources, and offer emotional support — ensuring no one has to navigate dementia alone. To qualify, individuals must: • Be enrolled in traditional Medicare traditional Medicare (not Medicare Advantage or Medicaid) • Have a diagnosis of any type of dementia diagnosis of any type of dementia, including Alzheimer’s • Have an identified family caregiver identified family caregiver who needs support The GUIDE program is designed to improve the quality of life not only for those with dementia, but also for the caregivers who support them. By offering structured care planning and meaningful respite, GUIDE helps reduce caregiver burnout, minimize unnecessary hospitalizations, and promote aging in place with dignity. Families in Somerset County are especially fortunate. ComForCare Home Care ComForCare Home Care in Somerville, a trusted, accredited provider with decades of dementia care experience, is now partnering with Continuum to deliver these vital services locally. ComForCare handles everything: determining eligibility, completing the required assessments, and directly providing the inhome respite care — all fully covered by all fully covered by Medicare for those who qualify. Getting started is easy. ComForCare ComForCare will guide you through the entire process, from checking eligibility to providing compassionate in-home care. To learn more or to see if you or a loved one qualifies, call ComForCare Home ComForCare Home Care of Somerville at 908-927-0500. SENIOR HEALTH Medicare’s New GUIDE Program Brings Free Dementia Respite Services to Local Families By Naomi Noto C Live your best life possible. (908) 927-0500 • Personal Care • Fall Prevention • Medication Reminders • Meal Preparation • Light Housekeeping OUR SERVICES RN Assessment, Oversight, Support & Skilled Care NOW ACCEPTING AETNA & HUMANA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS! FREE PROGRAMS: We are proud contracted providers for: Medicare GUIDE Program Somerset County Homemaker Program Veteran’s Affairs - VACCN Why choose us?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzA2NDY0