Tim Harty, The Business Times

Because HopeWest applied for and was selected to participate in a Medicare model program focused on improving the lives of people impacted by dementia, it will launch a dementia-support program this summer.

Through comprehensive, home-based services, newly formed HopeWest Dementia Support is tailored to serve caregivers and their loved ones living with dementia throughout Western Colorado, and it’s scheduled to begin July 1.

To implement the program HopeWest Clinical Support Manager Jaycee Ray said HopeWest is adding new team members and providing specialized training for existing staff.

“We recently welcomed a care navigator with extensive experience in community-based support for patients and caregivers,” Ray said. “Additionally, we are hiring a nurse practitioner to focus specifically on the medical needs associated with dementia. As the program expands, we anticipate increasing staffing to meet community demand.”

Ray said HopeWest frequently receives inquiries from families seeking support for loved ones living with dementia, especially during the earlier and middle stages, when traditional programs like hospice are not yet appropriate.

“Historically, our ability to serve these individuals was limited by specific eligibility requirements,” she said. “This program fills that gap, allowing us to reach and support a broader segment of the community. It enables us to offer care and resources to families who previously had few options during the most challenging phases of caregiving.”

Being selected for the Medicare model program called Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) made the new program possible. Ray said the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation “recognized a critical need for expanded support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers,” which led to the new, innovative care model.

HopeWest said in a news release the GUIDE opportunity aligns directly with its mission to “profoundly change the experience of aging, illness and grief one family at a time,” and participation in the GUIDE model allows HopeWest to offer enhanced dementia care and support services at no additional cost to patients or their families.

Ray said HopeWest Dementia Support aims to keep people living with dementia safe in their homes or communities and reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The new program will help caregivers manage the behavioral health challenges associated with dementia and support caregivers’ emotional health to reduce stress and prevent burnout.

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

HopeWest said beneficiaries of the dementia-support program will receive

• Comprehensive Assessments

HopeWest will collaborate with the patient’s primary care provider to offer enhanced dementia support, ensuring dementia patients and their loved ones receive the guidance they need.

Ray explained “enhanced dementia support” means providing families with practical, personalized strategies for common caregiving challenges.

“For example,” she said, “helping caregivers understand why their loved one might resist bathing, such as discomfort with temperature or feeling exposed, and offering techniques to make that experience more comfortable and dignified.”

• Home-Based Support

Beneficiaries receive direct communication from a HopeWest team member and have 24/7 access to HopeWest’s helpline, so it can answer questions whenever caregivers need help.

• Education and Coordination

Access to tools and knowledge needed to ensure those living with dementia receive proper care. HopeWest can also assist caregivers with coordinating community-based programs and resources, such as meals and transportation.

Ray said caregivers will benefit from HopeWest’s personalized guidance, best-practice education, and curated community resources.

“For instance,” she said, “managing concerns like wandering is a major challenge for many families. Through this program, we can connect caregivers with resources such as the AngelSense Program offered in Mesa County, 

which provides GPS tracking devices for individuals at risk of wandering.

“HopeWest acts as a central point of coordination, finding, vetting and connecting families to helpful tools, so they don’t have to navigate this complex landscape alone. This removes a significant burden from caregivers who are often balancing work, caregiving and daily life.”

• Respite Services

Caregivers can take time for themselves while their loved one is safely cared for. Eligibility will be based on assessed care needs.

Ray said HopeWest is developing in-home respite services designed to allow individuals with dementia to remain in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

“This approach is supported by research as being most beneficial,” she said. “These services include assistance with daily activities such as meal preparation, toileting and companionship.

Providing caregivers with reliable, trusted respite care offers them much-needed time to rest, attend appointments or simply recharge, while knowing their loved one is safe and well cared for.”

If you are a caregiver seeking dementia support, HopeWest is here to help.

To learn more or enroll in the program, call 970-248-4400 or visit HopeWestCO.org/

dementia-support.

NO ADDED COST WITH MEDICARE PARTS A & B

The HopeWest Dementia Support program is available at no additional cost to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B who have been diagnosed with any form of dementia.

TRAINED FOR THE JOB

All HopeWest Dementia Support staff involved in the program receive more than 20 hours of dementia-specific training, with ongoing education to ensure they remain current on best practices and advancements in dementia care.

This specialized training allows its team to offer tailored support that improves the quality of life for patients and caregivers.