You May Qualify for Up to

$2,500 Per Year in FREE Dementia Respite Care

Medicare’s new GUIDE Program is designed to support families caring for a loved one with dementia — including those with suspected memory loss.

Find out in a simple call if your family qualifies.

No obligation. Just clarity and support.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE

Caring for someone with dementia or cognitive decline can feel overwhelming.

You may be managing:

Repeated questions

Personality changes

Wandering or safety concerns

Increased supervision needs

Caregiver exhaustion

The GUIDE Program (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) was created by CMS to provide real support — including Medicare-funded respite care for eligible families.

WHAT IS THE GUIDE PROGRAM?

GUIDE is a Medicare-supported program that provides:

  • A dedicated dementia care navigator

  • Caregiver education and support

  • Coordination of community resources

    (transportation, meals, safety programs, etc.)

  • FREE respite care hours funded by Medicare

  • A yearly allowance to support in-home care

This benefit renews annually for eligible individuals.

is a proud GUIDE-Ready Respite Care Provider serving DuPage, Will, Cook, Lake, Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Eligible Individuals Must:

  • Be enrolled in Traditional Medicare

  • Have a suspected or confirmed dementia diagnosis

    (Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Vascular Dementia, etc.)

  • Be living at home or in the community

    (Private residence, Independent Living, Assisted Living, or Memory Care)

A formal diagnosis is not always required. Individuals with suspected dementia or cognitive decline may qualify.

WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE?

Individuals may not qualify if they are:

  • Enrolled in Medicare Advantage

  • Participating in a Special Needs Plan (SNP)

  • Living in a long-term care nursing facility

  • Enrolled in Hospice or PACE programs

Not sure what type of Medicare coverage your loved one has? We can help determine that during your call.

A Trusted Partnership for Dementia Care

Filro Caregivers partners with Harmonic Health

a national provider participating in Medicare’s GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) program.
Harmonic Health coordinates the medical and program side of GUIDE, including dementia care navigation, caregiver support, and Medicare enrollment.

Filro Caregivers

provides the in-home respite care services that families can use through their GUIDE benefit.

This partnership allows families to receive:

  • Expert dementia care coordination through Harmonic Health

  • Compassionate in-home care from Filro Caregivers

  • Access to Medicare-covered respite support for family caregivers

Together, we make it easier for families caring for someone with dementia to access support, guidance, and trusted care at home.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Step 1: Call Filro Caregivers or

You can call our office or submit the online referral form to see if your loved one may qualify for the Medicare GUIDE program.

Step 2: Expect a call from Harmonic Health

If it looks like a potential fit, we’ll submit the referral. A Harmonic Health representative will call you from (833) 610-3334 to explain the program and begin the enrollment process.

Step 3: Complete two short assessments

You’ll have a screening call with a Dementia Care Navigator and a virtual visit with a geriatric nurse practitioner to confirm eligibility.

Step 4: Medicare reviews the application

Harmonic Health submits the GUIDE enrollment to CMS. Most decisions are returned within a few days.

Step 5: If approved, respite care can begin

Once enrollment is confirmed, eligible families can start using their annual GUIDE respite benefit with Filro Caregivers.

WHY FAMILIES TRUST FILRO CAREGIVERS

GUIDE-Ready Certified Respite Provider

Dementia-focused caregivers

Licensed, locally owned home care agency


Serving DuPage,
Will, Cook, Lake, Kane, Kendall & McHenry counties

Committed to helping seniors remain safely at home

Our mission is simple:

Support your loved one — while giving you the break you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the respite care really free?

For eligible individuals, Medicare provides a yearly allowance for respite support through the GUIDE program.
This benefit helps families receive support caring for a loved one with dementia while allowing caregivers to take needed breaks.

What type of Medicare plan is required?

Participants must be enrolled in Traditional Medicare (Parts A & B).
Individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans or Special Needs Plans (SNP) are not eligible for the GUIDE respite benefit.

Does my loved one need to live at home?

They must live in the community. This includes:
• Private residence
• Independent living communities
• Assisted living communities
• Memory care communities
Residents of long-term nursing homes are not eligible for the GUIDE program.

What if my mom doesn’t have an official dementia diagnosis?

That’s completely fine and very common.
Many families notice memory problems before seeing a doctor. During enrollment, Harmonic’s nurse practitioner conducts a Medicare-approved cognitive assessment.
If the assessment confirms cognitive decline consistent with dementia, your loved one can qualify — no separate doctor’s diagnosis is required.

My dad has Alzheimer’s and lives in a memory care community. Can he still qualify?

Yes.
Individuals living in memory care, assisted living, or independent living communities can qualify for GUIDE, as long as they:
• Have Traditional Medicare (Parts A & B)
• Are not living in a long-term nursing home (SNF)
• Are not enrolled in hospice
Many memory care residents participate in GUIDE.
Respite hours can give family members breaks from daily visits, while 24/7 nurse access helps coordinate care between you, the community staff, and your loved one’s physicians.

Can we use the entire $2,500 benefit all at once?

You can use the benefit in any combination of visits, but each visit must be a minimum of 4 hours.
Examples:
• Two 24-hour respite days
• Fifteen 4-hour visits
• Any mix that works for your family
Most families spread visits throughout the year so they can take breaks when they need them most.

What happens after we use the $2,500 benefit?

Your yearly respite benefit resets every July 1.
For example:
If you enroll in January 2026, you receive up to $2,500 through June 30, 2026. On July 1, 2026, your benefit resets and you automatically receive another $2,500 for the new program year.
Even if your respite hours are used up, your family still keeps access to Harmonic’s 24/7 dementia nurse support year-round.
If additional care is needed, Filro Caregivers can continue providing services privately at our standard DuPage County rates.

What happens during the qualification call?

During the call we will:
• Review your loved one’s situation
• Confirm Medicare coverage
• Determine whether they may qualify for the GUIDE benefit
If they are eligible, we’ll schedule an in-home assessment to better understand care needs and develop a plan.

Is there any obligation to schedule the call?

No.
The call is simply to determine whether your loved one may qualify for the GUIDE program and to answer your questions. There is no obligation to move forward.

Still have questions?

The easiest way to find out if your loved one qualifies is through a short qualification call.

You don’t have to navigate dementia care alone.

Find out if your family qualifies for Medicare-funded respite support today.