Free senior care navigation for dementia caregivers

Yes. Thanks to our donors, Care Navigation is free to caregivers and care partners. There's no insurance to check and no bill afterward.

No. ADRC does not provide therapy or counseling. Care Navigation is an educational service that helps you better understand dementia, build coping and caregiving skills, problem-solve and prepare for decisions along the way.

Both. Every session is one-on-one. You can meet with us in person at our office or virtually from home.

It's for caregivers and care partners of a person living with Alzheimer's or another dementia, including spouses, adult children and other family members. Many are senior caregivers, older adults looking after a husband or wife, and many are adult children caring for a mom or dad.

A dementia care navigator is a guide for the caregiver. At ADRC, your navigator listens to what's happening at home, helps you problem-solve, teaches coping skills and strategies, and helps you build a personalized care plan. We also point you to local services through Information & Referral.

There's no single right answer, and it often changes as dementia progresses. Families usually weigh safety, the care your person needs day and night, your own health, and what you can afford. Options can include an in home senior caregiver, adult day care, or a community with a memory care unit. In a free Care Navigation session, we'll talk through your situation and the local options so you can decide with clearer information.

Yes. Disagreements about care are very common, especially when relatives live far away or haven't seen the day-to-day changes. In a Care Navigation session, we help you lay out the options, the costs and the local services, so you have clear information to share with your family.

Yes. Many caregivers are doing this mostly on their own. In your session, we look at who in your circle might help and which local services can fill the gaps, then build a plan around that.

Yes. We help out-of-state caregivers whose loved ones live in our area. Call (407) 436-7750 or email info@adrccares.org to get started.

GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) is a Medicare model that pays participating health care providers to coordinate dementia care. It brings together care coordination, caregiver education and support, and a limited amount of respite care for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Learn more on cms.gov.

You don't apply to Medicare directly. People join GUIDE through a health care provider that takes part in the program. Ask the person's doctor whether they offer GUIDE or can refer you to a program that does, and check cms.gov or medicare.gov for details. ADRC's Care Navigation needs no application or insurance.

Unfortunately, not a lot. Medicare's GUIDE program provides a limited amount of respite hours. Some Medicare Advantage plans say they offer coverage, so ask your plan which companies they work with. Learn more at medicare.gov.

Join one of our free caregiver support groups, in person or online. You can also browse our free Caregiver Resource Library or ask about our education services. For a short weekly moment of encouragement, download our free dementia devotional for care partners. Caring for a Veteran? See our Veterans resources.