Care for chronic conditions, such as heart failure, asthma, or arthritis, has been coordinated by healthcare providers and reimbursed by insurance for years.
But that has not been the case for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Until now.
“This is the first time that we're aware of that the federal government has gotten involved in providing some funding and support for dementia.”
Director Curt Gritters says The Dementia Institute has secured federal resources and grant funding to offer services at no cost to qualified participants under two programs.
The first, called GUIDE, is for those with traditional Medicare.
“They have access to an array of dementia services, including education, respite, and care navigation and 24 seven phone support all for no additional cost.”
The second program called VOICES is for those with other or no insurance.
“Which allows unpaid caregivers and those with a household income below specified levels to have access to discounted or free services. to like ‘family and friends’ class, or personal consultations or even our dementia simulation.
Gritters notes in West Michigan alone there's an estimated 50, 000 people living with dementia.
