Beginning July 1, HopeWest is launching a new program to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. 

HopeWest Dementia Support will be available to Medicare beneficiaries across Western Colorado, including Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties. The program is part of GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) model, a nationwide pilot from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) aimed at improving the lives of individuals with dementia and their unpaid caregivers.

The GUIDE model began in July 2024 and will run for eight years. HopeWest is joining under the program’s latest track, which gave the organization an additional year to develop a thoughtful rollout and well-rounded approach.

“We wanted to make sure we really built out a program that would meet the needs of these individuals,” said Jaycee Ray, clinical support manager at HopeWest. “We did not want to rush into anything. We wanted to be strategic about how we provide support.”

Through comprehensive, home-based services, the new program aims to help individuals with dementia remain safely in their homes, reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and provide caregivers with the tools and support they need to avoid burnout.

“Dementia is a complex disease and caring for someone with dementia can feel overwhelming,” said Ray. “Our goal is to ease that burden by offering support for both caregivers and the people they love.”

Each participant receives a detailed assessment. HopeWest works closely with primary care providers to understand the patient’s diagnosis, living situation, care needs and goals. Their connection with families often brings additional insight that can help. 

“It’s a lot easier to get the full story when you see someone in their home,” said Deneen Silva, president and CEO of HopeWest. “In a doctor’s office, it’s just a snippet in time—and often, caregivers don’t know how to truly paint the picture of what’s going on.”

Participants also have 24/7 access to a helpline staffed by HopeWest professionals who can answer questions and provide immediate guidance. 

“You can’t always predict what will be needed as a condition changes,” Silva said. “Having that immediate access for resources and guidance is a vital component, and not all organizations can offer that.”

Caregivers will receive tools and education to help them feel more confident in caring for their loved one. HopeWest can also assist with coordinating meal delivery, transportation and other community-based services. The program also helps caregivers access respite care, which allows caregivers time to rest and recharge while their loved one is safely cared for. 

“Medicare only covers respite benefits for hospice patients currently,” said Ray. “This is the second program where they will really be helping cover that respite cost.”

While some community programs offer respite services, Ray said they’re often difficult to access unless a person is already enrolled in a qualifying program. 

HopeWest Dementia Support is offered at no additional cost to individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare (Parts A and B) who have been diagnosed with any form of dementia. Referrals can come from primary care providers, specialists or even concerned family members.

“Our job is not so much provide the care, but to provide that one-stop shop for the resources,” said Ray. “Dementia isn’t an all-encompassing diagnosis and caregivers struggle with different pieces. It’s a lot more of that individualized approach, which is probably the biggest difference (from other dementia programs).”

She shared the recent story of a caregiver who reached out for help. 

“He told me, ‘My goal is to keep my wife at home. I don’t want to put her somewhere else, but I don’t know what to do,’” said Ray. “He also worried about what would happen to her if he passed away first.”

This program helps families like his plan ahead—so they don’t have to carry that fear alone.

To learn more about the Dementia Support Program or to enroll, visit HopeWestCO.org/dementia-support or call 970-248-4400.

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