A Preferred Care at Home caregiver sharing a warm moment with a senior at home

GUIDE

Medicare GUIDE Program · In partnership with PocketRN

Medicare’s GUIDE Program: Nurse-Led Dementia Support at Home in San Antonio

Caring for a loved one with dementia is an act of love. It’s also one of the hardest things a family can do. The appointments pile up. The medications change. The nights grow long. And somewhere in the middle of caring for someone else, a quiet question surfaces:

Who’s caring for you?

$0 No cost, no copays for families who qualify24/7 care team access

✦ No cost for qualifying families✦ Nurse-led dementia support✦ 24/7 care team access✦ In partnership with PocketRN✦ Trusted in-home care since 1984✦ Respite for family caregivers✦ No cost for qualifying families✦ Nurse-led dementia support✦ 24/7 care team access✦ In partnership with PocketRN✦ Trusted in-home care since 1984✦ Respite for family caregivers

Created by Medicare & CMS

What Is the GUIDE Program?

GUIDE is a program from Medicare, created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), with a mission close to our hearts: improving quality of life for people living with dementia — and easing the load on the family members who care for them.

GGuiding

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IImproved

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EExperience

The goal: help your loved one remain comfortable at home, longer The promise: you’re never left to figure it out alone The cost: $0 for families who qualify — no copays

How the partnership works

Two Teams, One Purpose

Dementia care works best when clinical expertise and hands-on help come together. That’s exactly what this partnership provides, with a clear role for each of us. PocketRN’s nurses support your family virtually, by phone and video. Our caregivers are there in person.

Virtual · By phone & video

PocketRN

The approved GUIDE provider. Their licensed, dementia-trained nurses deliver every clinical part of the program, including:

A dedicated nurse who checks in regularly by phone or video to monitor health and support caregivers
A personalized care plan built around your loved one’s needs
24/7 care team access
Care coordination with your loved one’s existing doctors and specialists
Medication review
Family education, one-on-one coaching, and emotional support
Referrals to helpful community resources

In person · In your home

Preferred Care at Home

A contracted Partner Organization of PocketRN — and our role is the one we’ve filled for elderly people and their families since 1984: reliable, compassionate, non-medical care at home.

In-home respite care through the program
Companionship and a steady, watchful presence
Personal care
Meals and light housekeeping
Care within the scope of our Texas Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA) license

And to be clear about what we don’t do: we don’t diagnose dementia, we don’t determine GUIDE eligibility, we don’t provide nursing services, and we don’t bill Medicare. That’s PocketRN’s role. Ours is to be the trusted hands and heart in the home.

A Preferred Care at Home caregiver providing companionship at home

Breathe

Respite care

Permission to Rest

Whether you’re caring for a spouse or a parent, respite is a simple idea with a powerful effect. A screened, experienced caregiver comes to your loved one’s home so you can rest, run errands, keep your own doctor’s appointment, or simply breathe.

For families who qualify, the GUIDE program includes an annual respite benefit. To qualify, your loved one generally must be living with moderate to severe dementia and have an unpaid family caregiver actively involved in their care. PocketRN determines respite eligibility and amounts through the program. Once approved, we build the schedule around your family.

7-step screeningYou’ll never wonder who’s walking through the door — every caregiver completes our full screening process.

Matched by personalityCaregivers are matched to your loved one by personality and experience — because peace of mind should be part of the care, too.

Eligibility, in plain language

Who May Qualify?

Eligibility for GUIDE is determined by PocketRN’s clinical team using Medicare’s criteria — never by Preferred Care at Home. In general, your loved one may qualify if they:

Are living with dementia — a formal diagnosis isn’t required to start the conversation, and PocketRN can help you obtain one if appropriate
Have traditional Medicare, with Parts A and B as their primary insurance (Medicare Advantage plans don’t currently qualify)
Live at home or in independent living — rather than a nursing home, assisted living, or memory care facility
Are not currently enrolled in hospice

May also be eligible

VeteransMedicare + MedicaidReceiving palliative care

Not sure where your loved one fits?

Not sure which type of Medicare they have? You don’t need all the answers before reaching out. That’s what the first conversation is for — and PocketRN’s team will help you sort out the details.

Wondering if your family qualifies? Call (210) 436-8713

Four simple steps

Getting Started Is Simple

No pressure and no obligation — just a caring conversation.

Reach out

Call our San Antonio office at (210) 436-8713. No pressure and no obligation, just a caring conversation.

Get connected

We introduce your family to PocketRN, whose team confirms Medicare eligibility and answers every question.

Meet your nurse

PocketRN completes a comprehensive assessment and builds your loved one’s personalized care plan.

Care begins at home

If respite is approved, we coordinate caregiver visits around your family’s needs.

Straight answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the GUIDE program cost?

For eligible Medicare beneficiaries, GUIDE services are provided at no cost, with no copays. Preferred Care at Home never bills Medicare for GUIDE services.

My loved one has a Medicare Advantage plan. Can we still enroll?

Not at this time. GUIDE is currently available to people with traditional Medicare, with Parts A and B as primary insurance. But if your loved one isn’t eligible, you’re not out of options. Our private-pay care is available from one hour to 24 hours a day, and we’re glad to help you explore paying for home care.

Does my loved one need a formal dementia diagnosis first?

No. You can start the conversation without one. If it’s appropriate, PocketRN’s clinical team can help your family obtain one.

Who provides the nursing care?

All clinical and nursing services come from PocketRN’s licensed, dementia-trained nurses. Preferred Care at Home provides only the non-medical home care and respite services authorized under our state license.

Will my loved one have to change doctors?

GUIDE is designed to work alongside the doctors and specialists your loved one already knows and trusts. Care coordination with your existing providers is part of the program, so PocketRN’s nurses work with your loved one’s care team rather than replacing it.

How many respite hours will we receive?

Respite amounts are determined through the GUIDE program based on eligibility, so we can’t promise a specific number of hours. Once PocketRN confirms your loved one’s benefit, we’ll build a schedule that fits your family. And if you ever need more support than the benefit covers, our private-pay care can fill the gaps.

What if we don’t qualify for GUIDE?

You still have us. Our compassionate, affordable dementia care and Alzheimer’s care, companion care, and personal care services are available privately, from one hour to 24 hours a day — and we’ll be by your side, every step of the way.

Let’s take the first step together

You’ve Carried So Much for So Long.
Let Us Help Carry Some of It.

Call Preferred Care at Home of San Antonio North or contact our San Antonio team to learn whether the GUIDE program is right for your family. We’ll listen first. We’ll answer honestly. And whatever comes next, you won’t face it alone.

Call (210) 436-8713 Contact Our San Antonio Team

Proudly serving San Antonio and the surrounding North San Antonio area. Contact us to confirm coverage in your area.

Preferred Care at Home of San Antonio North is licensed as a Texas Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA) (License No. 023022) and serves as a contracted Partner Organization of PocketRN. PocketRN provides the clinical GUIDE services, and Preferred Care at Home provides authorized non-medical home care and respite services within the scope of its state license. Preferred Care at Home does not determine GUIDE eligibility or bill Medicare for GUIDE services.